Wing Luke's 12th Annual JamFest Brings Art, Performance, and Culture to the CID Tonight

Find cabaret, rickshaw racing, panda bowling, and more at Wing Luke's street festival.

by Timothy Dong

This morning, 7th Avenue in Chinatown looks deserted, with its worn brick buildings and gated storefronts. A sniff of the cool air smells faintly of hand soap and boiling soup, and the distant hum of I-5 echoes through the narrow alleys. In the early morning light, the International District seems still to be waking up. However, tonight, an event with the intention of revitalizing this historic district and spreading the joy of music will fill the street with noise and laughter.

JamFest is back for its 12th anniversary, and it's larger than it's ever been. This annual music and arts festival, hosted by the Wing Luke Museum, brings with it live art demonstrations, dancing, and DJs — a three-hour-long, free-to-attend, family-friendly event that draws crowds of Seattleites to the Chinatown-International District.

Putting the "jam" in JamFest are invigorating performances at the three main venues of the festival at 7th Avenue Southeast and historic Canton and Maynard alleys. Shanghai Pearl, a longtime festival performer, is coordinating a cabaret show, and Kung Fu performers will demonstrate one of the ancient martial arts. Other performers include DJ Halal Cool J and the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team.

For younger family members, JamFest is bringing back its beloved tradition of rickshaw racing, where guests select and race small wooden rickshaw carts. Additionally, there's Boba Toss — hooping "tapioca balls" into bubble tea baskets — and Panda Bowling, which is exactly what its name suggests: bowling balls with panda designs into bamboo pins. For young and old alike, there's a chance to learn to play mahjong.

AshaAung Helmstetter will host art-mentoring workshops. Louie Gong, an Indigenous and Asian artist, will educate community members about Bruce Lee's personal development teachings and organize a written reflection activity. "The idea of working with the Wing Luke and Bruce Lee Foundation to create content around Bruce Lee is a dream come true for me," Gong explains. He is commissioned to paint two 10-by-10-feet murals in honor of Lee, and is banking on JamFest for input from the community on his "not fully baked" vision. "I want to create art that reaches people, and in order for me to reach people with my art, I need to understand where they're at and what they're interested in."

Gong also encourages guests to interact with other JamFest artists and ask them questions. "I hope when people come out to JamFest, they're going to go home with a new artist or new resource they're excited about, and tell a friend about it," he said. "The more we can get people talking about the vibrant and exciting things that are happening in the International District, the better it's going to be for all the businesses there and the people who frequent the neighborhood regularly."

Since its inauguration in 2012, the Wing Luke Museum has been the sole organizer of JamFest. "The museum itself, since its inception, has brought art [and] culture to the community. There's wellness that comes from seeing your stories told, knowing that there's a place that understands your history and cherishes it," said Steve McLean, the head of the museum's communications office. This year, the museum is partnering with One Nation/One Project's "Arts for Everybody" campaign to promote well-being through accessible arts. Over the coming weekend, 17 other cities across the United States will throw similar arts festivals.

For the first time ever, JamFest will incorporate open houses alongside the street performances. The open houses, McLean says, will encourage newcomers to "enjoy a restaurant, go to a food store, or bring their money and families into the neighborhood."

Among the businesses opening their doors is a yoga studio and sound bath spa. A reading will be held at Mam's Books. Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to explore the interior of a historic Cantonese opera house, which seldom opens during the year.

If you're planning to visit JamFest, McLean's best advice is to get there early and leave late, since there's much to do. He recommends taking public transit or carpooling with other families to reduce congestion, considering last year's attendance of roughly a thousand. The streets could be "dangerously" crowded, McLean says.

Jintana Lityouvong, the Wing Luke Museum's community programs manager, hopes JamFest will show people that "the Chinatown-International District is[n't] just a neighborhood that you park your car in during a Mariners' game, or a place to just get a quick, cheap bite to eat."

JamFest will be happening from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 26.For further information, the Wing Luke Museum has a dedicated webpage for activities, performance schedules and maps, as well as Facebook and Instagram pages.

Featured Image: A crowd gathers to watch a performance at a previous JamFest. (Photo: MXT Visuals)