Walk the Block is Wa Na Wari’s annual outdoor visual and performing arts festival that transforms Central District homes, businesses, parks, porches, and other common spaces into art installations and performance sites. It's the biggest Black arts festival in the Northwest. Participants will enjoy visual 2d and sculptural art, video installations, live music, dance parties, community stories, and more as they stroll the neighborhood with family and friends. Walk the Block is a chance to experience a slice of African American culture that defined the Central District as the hub for Black life in Washington State for over 70 years. Walk the Block brings visibility to a community that continues to adapt and grow in place, while creating a bridge to new residents who have recently arrived.

Walk the Block is also an important player in the revitalization of Seattle’s cultural community and economy at large. Development led to the displacement of working class people across the city, artists in particular. For a city whose international renown is partly anchored in the contributions of its artists, this continues to be a local challenge. Re-seeding the cultural landscape with opportunities for artists to live, work, and present is increasingly a public policy priority. Walk the Block is a draw for art lovers at large, and for public officials looking to support this vital sector and keep Seattle accessible and diverse all while helping to raise funds and build community with Wa Na Wari. Registration is encouraged.

Participating artists at the 2024 Walk The Block Art Festival include:

Tiffany Alfonseca, Xenobia Bailey, Brown Calculus, Larry Cook, Ariel Dannielle, Day Soul Exquisite, Marita Dingus, The Floating Museum, Couzyn van Heuvelen, C. Davida Ingram, Elisheba Johnson, Mendi + Keith, Berette S Macaulay, Josh Nucci, Shanice Smith, Ric’kisha Taylor, Vis-à-Vis Society, Tariqa Waters, Inye Wokoma, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Arnaldo James, and Ezra Wube.