Festival of cultures kicks off tomorrow

Over 3,000 guests and participants are expected to attend the 2nd CNMI International Festival of Cultures at the American Memorial Park starting tomorrow evening.

Organizing committee overall chair Mr. Ike Dlg. Demapan is urging all ethnic groups in the CNMI to participate in the three-day festivities of cultures which is aimed at uniting various ethnic groups in one grand celebration.

“I would like to invite the community to come and witness this annual event. It is bound to be a sentimental ceremony similar to last year, hopefully,” said Mr. Demapan, Indigenous Affairs resident executive.

The festival of cultures committee met Tuesday night to polish and wrap up last minute preparations for the series of activities scheduled for the weekend.

Ten booths representing the Hawaiian, Chuukese, Yapese, Filipino, Korean, Chinese, CNMI, Marshallese, Japanese, and Thai communities are set to showcase their cultures through art displays and other cultural exhibits.

Tomorrow’s inaugural ceremony will begin with the traditional tuba toast followed by a night packed with cultural entertainment.

On Saturday, the festival resumes through a float parade around 8:00 a.m. starting from the Carolinian Affairs Office down to the American Memorial Park.

Some 15 ethnic groups are expected to join the festivities through special presentations of their respective cultures in the form of dances, arts displays, songs, and culinary exhibition of native dishes.

The Northern Marianas hosts this year’s International Festival of Cultures to pay tribute to the different indigenous cultures that have contributed to the cultural development of the islands over the years.

Governor Pedro P. Tenorio has urged the public to observe the series of activities slated within each group’s own cultural village.

“The people of the Northern Marianas acknowledge the importance of each of the ethnic group’s contributions to our society, which enjoys fruits and benefits of cultural diversity as a whole,” said the governor in a proclamation he signed recently.

The festival of cultures is part of the Marianas Visitors Authority’s “Visit the Marianas 2000” campaign which is targeted to attract more tourists to the islands. (Marian A. Maraya)