For the sixth year in a row, the City of Burien will celebrate National Welcoming Week (September 10-19, 2026). Welcoming Week is an initiative of the nonpartisan nonprofit Welcoming America, featuring organizations and communities bringing together neighbors of all backgrounds, including immigrants, to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.
In 2021, Burien became a member of Welcoming America and one of the first cities in the region to have a dedicated event for Welcoming Week.
The Burien City Council issued a proclamation declaring September 10-19, 2026 as Welcoming Week in Burien at their meeting on September 14, 2026. The proclamation was presented by Councilmember Rocco DeVito and accepted by one of Burien’s Community Connector, Sofia.
This year’s national Welcoming Week theme is “Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect.” We invite everyone to join in and celebrate our immigrant and refugee neighbors by attending the Welcoming Burien event hosted by the City of Burien, in partnership with Discover Burien, in Town Square Park on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. This annual free event features cultural performances and activities, games, arts and crafts, a resource fair, and more.
The event also gives attendees the opportunity to meet Burien’s Community Connectors who represent those from Spanish, Vietnamese, and Amharic language communities and learn about City services directly from City staff.