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The International Children’s Friendship Festival (ICFF) returns for its 16th year, bringing a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity, and unity to Seattle on April 5- 6. Hosted at the Fisher Pavilion in Seattle Center, ICFF is the largest children’s festival in the Pacific Northwest, where children take center stage as both organizers and performers. The festival is proudly organized by the ICFF committee of the Turkish American Cultural Association of Washington (TACAWA).
ICFF’s mission is to channel the positive energy of International Children’s Day—a globally recognized holiday originating in Türkiye — into a powerful celebration of diversity and global friendship. The festival aims to foster a future where cultures from around the world are honored, appreciated, and celebrated. Attendees will be captivated by live musical performances from children’s groups representing diverse cultural backgrounds. The Global Citizen passport game will encourage young visitors to explore cultural exhibits, immersing themselves in new languages, games, and traditions from across the world.
The ICFF Art Showcase serves as a premier platform for young artists, featuring over 200 artworks annually. Through visual storytelling, participants promote global peace and understanding. Festivalgoers actively engage by voting for their favorite pieces, adding to the interactive cultural experience. Previous showcase themes have included friendship, the environment, and my favorite place with this year’s theme being “When I Picture Tomorrow, I See…”
The Youth Voices program focuses on cross-cultural learning and creative work amongst 55 youth leaders from many of ICFF’s community partners. Over the course of 8 weeks, youth representatives came together and focused on three separate projects: the collaborative design of a large-scale arts installation, a community storytelling and oral history project, and the preparation of cross-cultural music/dance teaching workshops! Leaders also explored and deliberated the writings of diverse global scholar-activists to ultimately produce a 2025 Youth Voices Vision Statement, shared with local leaders across Seattle.
ICFF continues to gain international recognition, hosting over 30 countries and cultures, including Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Tanzania, Tibet, Türkiye, Ukraine and the USA.
ICFF serves as a dynamic platform for children to actively engage in diversity, inclusion, and leadership. Many young participants have flourished through their involvement, carrying forward the festival’s message of “Peace at Home, Peace in the World” as they shape a brighter future.
There is no event quite like ICFF — a celebration that highlights children’s talents while fostering cultural exchange, learning, and personal growth. It stands as a testament to the boundless potential for unity, creativity, and understanding that thrives within our youth.
For more information, visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X. For inquiries and giving opportunities, contact info@icffseattle.org.