PALMDALE – Saturday, thousands of people will come together to celebrate unity and diversity at the oldest multicultural festival in the Antelope Valley. The 17th Annual Antelope Valley International Heritage Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday at Poncitlan Square in Palmdale.
“This is a great opportunity for people to learn about the many different cultures, nationalities, and countries that are represented in the Antelope Valley,” said Festival Chairman Robert Alvarado. “We must bring awareness to the things that we have in common, the things that unite us.”
The free event is billed as a way for residents to “experience the many cultures and heritages of the Antelope Valley through food, music, art, dance and poetry.”
The event will feature dozens of community groups representing various countries including China, the Philippines, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Norway, Denmark and Venezuela.
Social, political and religious groups from across the Antelope Valley that provide services to the community will also host informational booths to educate the community on their services.
And Festival attendees will be entertained by Folkorico Dancers (representing Mexico), belly dancers (representing the Middle East), Japanese and Korean Dancers. Various local performers are also scheduled to perform, Alvarado says.
The highlight of the Festival will be the Parade of Nations, where all the different groups display the banners, flags, colors and symbols of their birthplaces, and then march around the park to the tune of “It’s A Small World.”
“It will be a great day to celebrate unity and tolerance, which is something that we need in the Antelope Valley,” says Alvarado.
The 17th Annual Antelope Valley International Heritage Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, September 10, 2011, at Poncitlan Square in Palmdale (corner of 9th East & Ave Q-9). This is a free event. Although there will be free food samples donated from local restaurants, organizers are still encouraging Festival attendees to bring a picnic lunch. For more information on the Festival, contact 661-406-4320.
