From Comedy to Community Empowerment, Comedian Allison Fine helps to Bring Back the Federal Way Community Festival
Photos by Susan Fried
Comedian and Federal Way-based community organizer Allison Fine was on The Day With Trae to talk with host Trae Holiday about the upcoming Federal Way Community Festival. Fine started comedy in late 2021, and created the Open Mic Collective PNW, a production collective that offers 12-14 mics and shows in South Puget Sound, along with her own production company.
Beyond comedy, Fine was the chair of the Democrats for five years in Federal Way before she decided to join the Federal Way Diversity Commission. As the chair of the committee organizing the festival, Fine is dedicated to creating an inclusive and vibrant event that showcases the rich cultural tapestry of Federal Way.
“When I joined the diversity commission, it was really important to me to bring this festival back,” Fine said.
Growing up in an area where community festivals were integral to fostering connections and a sense of belonging, Fine saw the absence of such events in Federal Way as a missed opportunity.
“I grew up in an area in the Bay Area where there's a festival every weekend,” Fine said. “There's all kinds of cultural and community festivals and you've never had a lack of things to do, but Federal Way doesn't have that. So I saw what we did at The Flavor as a step in that direction.”
For her, bringing back the festival was about more than just organizing an event — it was about filling a void in the community, providing a platform for diverse voices and cultures to be celebrated, and creating shared experiences that unite residents.
“I just want to remind you that Federal Way is a supportive and inclusive community,” Fine said. “When we don't see that happening, the diversity commission goes into action and we send emails or we send official messaging to the city council to the mayor and say, ‘You need to do better.’ That's important to me, that we say, ‘Hey, maybe you didn't know how to deal with it this time, but next time, do it better, next time be a better example of what diversity should look like in our community.’”
The Federal Way Community Festival, taking place on August 10 from 11 am to 6 pm, promises a vibrant lineup of entertainment and activities.
“Should you have a free weekend, and you want to go do something with your kids, you can look at our community calendar,” Fine said. “See if there's something, you know, a Sikh church that's going on, or something within the Korean community, they're having some sort of an event or a festival, we want to provide access for people and centralizing that information is really important.”
With a DJ and live performers every 20 minutes including dance troupes, singers, and bands, the festival aims to keep attendees engaged throughout the day. Additionally, there will be food trucks, retail vendors, and opportunities for nonprofits to participate, making it an inclusive and diverse event for the community.
“If you are a local artist, you can tap in with me, I can give you the information for the Arts Explosion, but also, maybe you can be highlighted at the festival,” Fine said. “We're also gonna have a kids area this year, so we're gonna have some jumpers, some face painters, and maybe we'll have some storytelling from the stage for kids.”
To apply for a position on the Federal Way Diversity Commission, visit the city's website at cityoffederalway.com. Navigate to the boards and commissions section where you can find the application. Terms typically last for two years, but there's an option to reapply for continued involvement. Currently, there are two openings for voting members on the commission.
On the comedy front, Fine is bringing back the "Fresh and Funny Comedy Show" to Nate Jackson's Super Funny Comedy Club on Thursday, June 13th. She's partnering with comedian Dubs General from Austin for this event. The show will feature comedians Ken Hamlett and Tawanna Buchanan, with Mike Duke as the co-host with Fine.
To find and follow all of Fine’s events visit her link tree here.
To hear more about community events in Seattle, tune in to Trae every weekday at 11 am on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
