The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

Countdown to AV Heritage Festival

by •

The Filipino American Association of AV will be performing again at this year's festival. (Photo courtesy AV International Heritage Committee)
The Filipino American Association of AV will be performing again at this year’s festival. (Photos courtesy AV International Heritage Committee)
Grupo Folklorico will be performing.
Grupo Folklorico will be performing.

PALMDALE – Hundreds of residents will descend on Poncitlan Square this Saturday to celebrate unity, diversity and tolerance at the Valley’s oldest multicultural festival.

The 19th annual AV International Heritage Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Poncitlan Square, located at 9th Street East and Avenue Q-9 in Palmdale. The free event includes plenty of cultural entertainment, informational booths, free food samples from local restaurants, and lots of giveaways.

“This is an annual event to try to bring people from all backgrounds together in order to celebrate our differences,” said Diana Brown, Chairwoman of the AV International Heritage Committee.

Scottish Highland dancer, Andria Witmer, will be performing.
Scottish Highland dancer, Andria Witmer, will be performing.

The AV International Heritage Committee’s goal is to find a common thread to weave neighborhoods, cities and cultures as one. Nineteen years ago, a small group of volunteers came up with the idea of putting together an international festival to enhance mutual understanding and acceptance of each other’s differences. Every year since, the event has grown to include more educational booths and a wide variety of cultural foods graciously donated by local restaurants. This year, the festival will feature food from George’s Inka Grill (Peru), Mahli’s (India), Fresco II (Mediterranean), El Carbonero (El Salvador), Mi Ranchito (Mexico) and Outback Steakhouse (Australia).

Heritage Festival entertainment schedule (in order of appearance):

  • Welcome and Introductions (Chairwoman Dianna Brown)
  • Pledge of Allegiance (Vice Chair, Elena Montgomery)
  • National Anthem (Jacob Nelson & Molly Wineland)
  • Parade of Nations
  • Models from Around the World (Academy of Style)
  • Scottish Highland Fling (Andria Witmer)
  • Arabic Songs & Cheer (Guidance Charter School Children)
  • Japanese Dancers (Filipino America Association A.V.)
  • Danza Azteca Mazatl
  • Grupo Folklorico AV
  • Argetine Tango (Andres Kabrera & Melissa Collins)
  • Belly Dancers (Desert Lotus Tribal)
  • Bharatnatyam Dance (Performed by a young Indian dance group)
  • Belly Dancers (AV Belly Dance)
  • Polynesian Dancers (Halau Hula O Kanoelani)
  • Luz Del Valle (Singer)
  • Uganda African Dance (Makaru Fitness)
  • Folklorico Divas Del Desierto
  • Hip Hop Dance (Ashley Montgomery & Ariah Medellin)
  • Carlos Guzman (Singer)
  • Closing Remarks

For more information on this event, call 661-406-4320 or visit the group’s Facebook page here.

–

Filed Under: Palmdale

1 comment for "Countdown to AV Heritage Festival"

  1. I find it very interesting that a community that had many Scandinavian, Danish, Swiss, and German immigrants has no recollection of their existence in their AV Heritage Festival schedule, nor did I find anything relating to it on their other online areas.

    Palmdale even got it’s name from the German and Swiss immigrants who created it, Palmenthal.