Children at a folk and traditional arts event posing together after dancing

Folk and Traditional Arts Program

Learn about the natural, cultural, and artistic heritage through memorable experiences in the parks and plan to attend one of our exciting, enriching events!

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission's mission involves both a commitment to care for the state's most treasured lands, waters and historic places and a desire to connect all Washingtonians to their natural, cultural, and artistic heritage through memorable experiences in the parks. Since 2004, the Folk & Traditional Arts Program has added to those memorable experiences with events in state parks by musicians, dancers, craftspeople and storytellers who represent a wide variety of old and new Washington traditions.

We host events in state parks by musicians, dancers, craftspeople and storytellers who represent a wide variety of old and new Washington traditions. From tribal canoe family journeys to Cinco de Mayo festivities, from fisher poetry to Ecuadorian song, from Hawaiian hula to old-time square dances, the program brings people together — some to celebrate a common heritage and some to learn about the traditions of others.

Program Events

Find a Folk and Traditional Arts Program near you on our Event Calendar. Filter to by location in the Park search field and/or by choosing the term "Folk Arts Activities" under the Activity search field.

Enjoy this short video highlighting our Folk & Traditional Arts program and a few of the many events and programs held at parks across Washington.

Annual Report

View the Folk and Traditional Arts Program Annual Report - 2022 (PDF, 2.5MB).

Program Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors! the  National Endowment for the ArtsWashington State Parks Specialty License Plate Fund, and  Washington State Parks Foundation.

A black square with white text reading National endowment for the arts dot gov.
A rectangular graphic of the Washington State Parks license plate which helps fund the Washington State Parks Folk and Traditional Arts Program. It features a waterfall, mountains and a lake behind the license text reading PARKS.
Circular green graphic of the Washington State Parks Foundation. It features the foundation's name and outlines of people hiking through iconographic images of trees and mountains.
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Contact Us

Department Folk and Traditional Arts Program
Phone (360) 902-8844
Email FolkArts@parks.wa.gov
Address 1111 Israel Rd Tumwater , WA 98502