Happy City News invites Seattle to a joyful harvest celebration: Seattle Hmong New Year takes place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the Armory Food & Event Hall at Seattle Center. The festival is part of the Seattle Center Festál series, and it is free and open to the public.
Presented in partnership with the Hmong Association of Washington, the festival celebrates the end of the harvest season with intricate clothing, dance, food and more. Families dress in beautifully embroidered traditional outfits, performers take the stage with music and dance, and the hall fills with the aromas of celebratory dishes shared across generations.
Hmong New Year is one of the most cherished traditions in Hmong culture, a moment to give thanks for the harvest, honor ancestors and welcome a fresh start. Visitors can experience traditions such as pov pob, the ball-tossing game, admire hand-stitched textiles that can take months to create, and learn stories passed down through families in the region.
Festál is Seattle Center’s year-round series of 25 free cultural festivals, each produced with community partners. Arrive hungry, bring the family and spend November 14 discovering a celebration where heritage, gratitude and new beginnings meet under one roof.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
