PHOTO ESSAY | Umoja Fest 2024 Draws Thousands to the 'Soul of Seafair'

by Susan Fried

This year's Umoja Fest Africatown Heritage Festival and Parade drew thousands of people to Judkins Park on Aug. 3 and 4 for the annual celebration its organizers describe as the "soul of Seafair." "Umoja" is a Swahili word meaning "unity," and the annual festival celebrates Seattle's Black community in what many festivalgoers say feels like a family reunion.

Spectators lined the parade route, which began at 3rd Avenue and Cherry Street and ended at 23rd Avenue South and South Jackson Street. The parade featured 40 different groups and organizations, including the Seattle Buffalo Soldiers, the Seattle Public Schools' All-City Marching Band, the casts of The Teen Summer Musical Snow Whyte and the Seven, and multiple drill teams including the Washington Diamonds and the Electronettes.

After the parade ended, the crowd made its way to the festival, which featured a Soul in the City Stage and a Vibez Stage, plus a Children's Village with lots of hands-on activities. Performances throughout both days of the festival included headliner Doug E. Fresh on Saturday evening on the Soul in the City Stage and The Show Stopper Fashion Show on the Vibez Stage on Saturday afternoon.

Festivalgoers could buy a variety of products at the dozens of vendor booths or find information about everything from mortgages to health care.

Despite the heat, the annual festival was a huge success as thousands of people enjoyed two days of music, fun and friends.

Editors' Note: This article was updated to correct typographical errors.

📸 Featured Image: A member of the Washington Diamonds Drill Team throws some glitter into the air during a performance by the team for the crowd along the Africatown Heritage Parade route. (Photo: Susan Fried)