The 13th annual City of Irvine Global Village Festival will take place tomorrow Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Bill Barber Park.
Come hungry, and I hope to see you there!
Recognized as one of the best cultural festivals in Orange County, this day-long event features:
· live entertainment
· international cuisine
· a kid’s village with crafts and activities
· cultural and religious exhibits, and
· an international marketplace.
The festival is intended to promote meaningful cross-cultural interactions, and is a mosaic of food, music and dance performances representative of more than 50 cultures.
Festival admission and parking are free.
Food tasting tickets are available for purchase at the event with prices ranging from $1 to $5 for a sample-sized serving.
Here are some things to do:
Walk for Unity (Pre-event Activity)
Join others for a pre-event “Walk for Unity" hosted by The Tiyya Foundation to bring Irvine’s community together in support of global harmony and celebrate cultural diversity. The 5K walk begins at the corner of Harvard and San Juan at 9 a.m. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. Please park your vehicle at the Woodbridge satellite parking lotand ride the shuttle to the Festival. The shuttle from Woodbridge drops off near the Walk of Unity check-in tent.
Live Music & Roving Entertainment
Featuring artistic performances symbolic of Irvine’s diverse cultural community, the Festival’s entertainment line-up is a mosaic of music and dance from around the world. To keep up-to-date with Festival entertainment, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, view and share images on Instagram (follow us at @irvinefestival).
Food & Drink
More than 50 local restaurants and gourmet food trucks serve up samples of regional and international specialties from Boba Smoothies, Miso Soup, Falafels, Mexican Fusion tacos and German pretzels to Japanese dumplings, Hawaiian shaved ice and the all American bacon-wrapped hot dog.
International Marketplace
Bustling with activity, the Festival’s Global Marketplace is overflowing with local, regional and international vendors offering unique gifts, crafts, artwork and textiles’ representative of Irvine’s cultural community and beyond.
Kids Village
The Festival’s Kids Village is a fanciful and vibrant destination for children, featuring kids-inspired music and dance performances, an inflatable play area, crafting, games and sports activities, plus “kid-friendly” food selections that appeal to our younger guests.
Safety Suggestion: Free ID wristbands will be available at the Information Booth. include only your cell number on the wristband and NOT the child’s name. In the event you become separated, Festival staff will be able to contact you immediately.
Demonstrations
Demonstrations Interactive, educational and entertaining – the Demonstration stage and the Martial Arts Arena highlights a diverse array of cultural arts and crafts, musical instruments, as well as dance and martial arts performances.
Exhibits
A showcase of cultural displays, the exhibitor area provides guests with an opportunity to learn about other cultures through interactive displays, costumes, artifacts, and art.
Tennis Demo
New in 2014! Visit tennis court #1 near the Kids Village to try your hand at tennis! Meet City of Irvine tennis instructors, learn about City leagues and lessons for juniors and adults, and bring the kids along for interactive demonstrations using the 10 & Under teaching method.
Green Expo
Hosted by the City of Irvine’s Environmental Programs section, the Green Expo highlights sustainable and environmentally friendly services, products and practices for residential and business consumers. Stop by to view demonstrations and grab some free giveaways. Click here for detailed information about the Festival’s eco-friendly efforts.
World Religions – A Voyage of Discovery
The World Religions tent provides guests with an opportunity to explore, discuss and expand their spiritual knowledge through interaction with established faith-based organizations from the Irvine area. The focus of this attraction is educational – solicitation and/or recruitment of members are strictly prohibited. Click here to view a timeline of World Religions.
Community Partners
At the heart of the Festival is the Community Partners Pavilion, where non-profit, local community groups and government agencies have an opportunity to showcase their programs and services to the community.
Festival Welcome
Irvine is truly a diverse City and we are honored to welcome a number of consulates serving Southern California. Check the Festival program for "Welcome Ceremony" times and join us in greeting our special international guests.
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