Traditional Iranian food, music and dress were the order of the day for the celebration of Nowruz, the Iranian new year, at Kirkland’s Marina Park last weekend.

This is the first year the Iranian Society of Washington State (ISOWS) has held a public Nowruz event, and organizers say they are going to make it an annual happening.

“(This year’s event) went beyond our expectations,” Kirkland resident Guita Baldwin, who helped organize the event, said.

“(People) showed up who were curious about our culture,” Kirkland resident Nazanin Nabaie, another event organizer, added.

The organizers said they received a lot of support from the City of Kirkland in making the event happen, including a letter from Mayor Amy Walen to the ISOWS.

“Your dedication to the preservation and enrichment of the Iranian culture is an inspiration to us all,” Walen wrote. “The rich traditions of your culture and the high value you place on education contribute to our society in many wonderful ways.”

“It was a nice addition to have the greeting from the mayor,” ISOWS Chair Zohreh Fard, who lives in Sammamish, said.

The ISOWS, which was started in 2013, has regular gatherings to provide resources to locals of Iranian descent and share their culture with anyone who is interested.

“We have a very supportive Iranian community here,” Baldwin said. “We want to educate the youngsters about our culture.”

For more information about the ISOWS, visit isows.org.

The Iranian Society of Washington State (ISOWS) hosted its first annual Nowruz Festival on March 18 at Marina Park in Kirkland. Contributed photo

Organizers Zohreh Fard, Nazanin Nabaie and Guita Baldwin pose for a photo at the Nowruz Festival on March 18 at Marina Park in Kirkland. Contributed photo