The Washington West African Center's fourth annual Sounds of Africa festival takes over Garfield Park on Saturday, Aug. 15, with six hours of live African music, dance, food and a fashion show, all open to the public.

The cultural festival runs from 1 to 7 p.m. at the park, 2300 Walnut St. Past performers have included Pa Omar Jack, Pa Bobo Jobarteh, The Kouyate Arts, Selassie Soldiers and the WAWAC BIDEWW Choir, according to the Lynnwood Times. A fashion show spotlighting traditional and modern African styles, a dance competition and authentic African food vendors round out the lineup.

WAWAC, a nonprofit that operates out of Lynnwood but has held the festival at Garfield Park since its 2023 debut, is pulling this year's event together without dedicated festival funding.

The organization is asking for financial contributions, donated supplies, sponsors and volunteers. Registration links for vendors, sponsors and volunteers are posted at wawac.org.

Pa Ousman Joof, a WAWAC representative, previewed the festival with musical demonstrations at the fifth annual Mariner Fest on Aug. 1 at Mariner High School, where the performances drew children and adults, the Lynnwood Times reported.

WAWAC says the festival entertains and educates while encouraging exchanges between African communities and the wider public. The organization describes its mission as fostering cultural appreciation and creating economic opportunities for African entrepreneurs and artists.

Aug. 15 is stacked with free cultural events in Everett. The Fresh Paint Festival returns to downtown's Hoyt Avenue the same weekend with more than 120 artists. Sounds of Africa is in south Everett at Garfield Park, while Fresh Paint is roughly two miles north in downtown.

No tickets or registration are required. Those who want to help can sign up to volunteer or sponsor the event through WAWAC's website.