Rantz: Northwest Folklife is the festival manifestation of a Seattle homeless encampment

Northwest Folklife is Seattle’s annual tradition of hanging out stoned at the Seattle Center, while basically doing nothing for an entire weekend. It’s kind of like the festival manifestation of a homeless encampment.

If you’ve never been to Northwest Folklife, which takes place this Memorial Day weekend, congratulations. You’ve saved yourself from enduring a public space overrun with people who look like they were assembled from REI’s lost-and-found bin and renaissance fair costumes found at the local Goodwill.

Folklife is a unique (read: sad) combination of retired hippies and young stoners joining forces to celebrate…well, nothing in particular, except for their mutual love of patchouli and pretending hacky sack is a competitive sport.

That time I mistakenly visited Northwest Folklife at the Seattle Center

I strolled through once—by accident, I assure you—and it was like a time warp. There was a 63-year-old man named “Rainbow” showing a 19-year-old how to juggle, both of them giggling thanks to the questionable brownies that weren’t from the nearby Metropolitan Market.

The main feature of Northwest Folklife is the air. Seattle Center always has a certain “earthiness,” but during Folklife, it’s like literally stepping into a bong. The scent of dank weed is so overwhelming, it likely violates the Clean Air Act. Though, a glass half full view is that at least it’s not fentanyl.

So yes, Northwest Folklife is embarrassing, awkward, and a little bit sad. But at least it’s better than Bumbershoot. Low bar, but hey—Seattle loves its traditions. That said, I’m sure I’ll stop by with my Malinois-mix D’Artagnan so he can see what will come of his life if he ditches his dog training courses for an aimless existence, though, honestly, he’ll probably end up experiencing his first contact high.

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