FREE Savannah Asian Festival
The 17th Annual Savannah Asian Festival – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. June 23 – brings an entire continent of unique cultures, cuisines, performances and fun to the Savannah Civic Center. Parking at the Civic Center is free for the day.
Festival attendees can enjoy free, live, stage performances including – thunderous drumming by the Matsuriza Taiko, dancing by Indo American’s of Savannah, and as seen on the hit TV show America’s Got Talent Liang Acrobatic & Comedy Show. This year, the Savannah Asian Festival is featuring celebrity food correspondent Chef, Host, and Restaurateur, Orchid Paulmeier, finalist of the Next Food Network Star Season 7 2011, Orchid will be sampling exotic cuisines from across the continent. Several local restaurants, will be presenting a selection of regional favorites from Korea, China, Japan, the Philippines, India, Thailand and many more!
The festival will feature martial arts demonstrations, and dance performances from groups representing Korea, China, Indonesia, Pacific Islands, and Thailand.
All are welcome to browse the Cultural Marketplace to learn more about each country and discover the traditional arts, crafts, fashions and treasures unique to each nation. A continent’s worth of treasures that can be found in the marketplace from calligraphy sets to paper, original paintings, hand-beaded clothing, and exotic accessories and henna body painting. Also enjoy a workshop on Asian & Middle Eastern Tea and martial’s arts workshop by Martial Arts Hall of Famer and 10 degree black belt, Grandmaster Dr. Ronald Frazier Sr. and Ata’s Black Belt Academy Jim Richards.
Children can be entertained as they can learn more about Asian cultures through hands-on activities like crafting origami, Diwali treasure boxes, and marking various Asian flags.
The Savannah Asian Festival is free courtesy of the City of Savannah. There is a charge for food and purchases from the Cultural Marketplace.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
(times are approximate)
11:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony and Parade of Flags
11:30 a.m. Lee’s Taekwondo Martial Arts Demonstrations (Korea)
11:55 a.m. Indo Americans of Savannah
12:20 p.m. Matsuriza Taiko Drummers (Japan)
12:45 p.m. Sanggar Lestari Indonesian Performing Group
1:10 p.m. Liang Acrobatic & Comedy Show (China)
1:45 p.m. Sampaguita Dance Troupe (Philippines)
2:10 p.m. Children of Polynesia
2:35 p.m. Chien Hong School of Kung Fu (China)
3:00 p.m. Thailand Dance Group
3:25 p.m. Matsuriza Taiko Drummers (Japan)
4:00 p.m. Liang Acrobatic & Comedy Show (China)