Hundreds flock to arts fest’s 1st night

All roads led to the American Memorial Park Friday, as more than a thousand people attended the first night of the 25th Flame Tree Arts Festival.

Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Daisy Villagomez-Bier was surprised that the first night of the festival drew a fair share of people, with the line of cars stretching as far as the Haf Adai Hotel and DFS Saipan intersection.

“It’s just so amazing,” she said.

She said the overwhelming turnout was due to the hard work and efforts of this year’s committee officers, including Art Council director Cecilia Taitano-Celes.

Villagomez-Bier said her team has done a tremendous and wonderful job to make this year’s festival better and bigger.

Cars lined up and filled the grounds of the American Memorial Park as early as 4pm. More vehicles continued to drive in and tried to find parking spaces, which eventually became scarce.

Visitors who have been trooping to the festival every year were amazed and impressed to find out that this year’s festival layout is bigger and wider.

Clare Fejeran, now a resident of Guam, said the setup is more beautiful and bigger. She said she was impressed with this year’s celebration.

A short opening ceremony was staged at past 6pm. Prominent local dignitaries attended the opening of the festival, including Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Tim Villagomez, who both appeared with their better halves.

Fitial said: “On this special 25th Anniversary of our Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival, we come together to celebrate how far we’ve come and grown together. From a celebration with merely a few local artists, the Festival has now grown to include our brothers and sisters from throughout Micronesia and the wider Pacific.”

Festival participants include delegations from Hawaii, Yap, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Guam as well as from Rota and Tinian.

“The Flame Tree Arts Festival burns brighter every year because of your participation,” Fitial said.

He also thanked all artists who participated in this year’s festival. “Here in the CNMI, we are facing extreme economic challenges. However, the celebration of this year’s Festival is an encouraging sign of brighter things to come.”

The Flame Tree Arts Festival will run from April 27 until this Sunday.

Today at 9am a Parade of Cultures will be held from the Carolinian Utt on Beach Road, Garapan all the way to the American Memorial Park.

Live performances will be held today and tomorrow starting from 10am to 11pm.