Free Savannah Asian Cultural Festival, March 27-28
Armstrong State University and the City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs will present the 2015 Savannah Asian Cultural Festival, one of the South’s largest Asian celebrations, on March 27 and 28.
For the first time, all events will take place at Armstrong’s campus at 11935 Abercorn St. in Savannah. The festival is free and open to the public.
The 20th Annual Savannah Asian Cultural Festival will bring the continent of Asia to coastal Georgia, celebrate the rich diversity of the area and feature unique cultures, cuisine, live performances and more. The festival will offer samplings from local restaurants and a selection of regional favorites from Polynesia, China, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.
A Cultural Marketplace will offer the opportunity to learn more about each country and discover the traditional arts, crafts, fashions and treasures unique to each nation. From Ming-shared jewelry to calligraphy sets, original paintings, hand-beaded clothing, Asian accessories and henna body painting, an entire continent’s worth of treasures can be found at Armstrong.
The festivities will kick off on Friday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. with a free live performance by Arya International, an Indian dance troupe from New York City, at the Armstrong Fine Arts Auditorium. Attendees can enjoy an evening of dance, from classical Bharatnatyam to entrancing Bollywood performances.
On Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the festival will offer a full day of live stage performances on two separate stages, including martial arts demonstrations, cultural displays, arts and crafts, educational workshops and more.
On March 28, the Savannah Asian Cultural Festival schedule for performers on the main stage, located on Burnett Lawn, is as follows:
11 a.m. – Official opening with the Parade of Nations showcasing flags and representatives in indigenous dress from the Asian countries
11:45 a.m. – Performance by the Taiko Drums of Japan
12:15 p.m. – Lee’s Tae Kwon Do Exhibition of South Korea
12:45 p.m. – Dragon Dance around the festival grounds with Hac Long Duong Performers of Vietnam
1:15 p.m. – Dances from Thailand and China
1:45 p.m. – Dances from the Philippines
2:15 p.m. – Children of Polynesia and performance by the Southeast Korean Dance Association
2:45 p.m. – Lee’s Tae Kwon Do Exhibition of South Korea
3:45 p.m. – Dragon Dance with Hac Long Duong Performers of Vietnam
The festival will also include free educational workshops in Armstrong’s International Garden. The workshop schedule is as follows:
12:30 p.m. – Pakistan Tea Ceremony
1:30 p.m. – Tai Chi workshop with Myung Lee of South Korea
2:30 p.m. – Oriental Belly Dancing Workshop with Yara Dancs
Armstrong’s Free Outdoor Arts Festival
The 2015 Savannah Asian Cultural Festival will be presented in conjunction with Armstrong’s Outdoor Arts Festival on March 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the university’s Fine Arts Hall Courtyard.
Highlights at this family-friendly festival include hands-on arts and crafts, dance, theater and live music. All events are free and open to the public.
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