The inaugural International Festival of Cultures will kick off tomorrow, Sept. 13, at the Paseo de Marianas pedestrian mall in Garapan.<\/p>\n
The Marianas Visitors Authority\u2019s newest annual event, which will showcase the diverse cultures of the CNMI, will open at 5pm and performances will start at 6pm and end at 11pm. <\/p>\n
The event will be held every Saturday starting tomorrow and on Sept. 20, 24, 27, before concluding on Oct. 4.<\/p>\n
On the last day of the event, Oct. 4, there will be a parade starting at 5:30pm in Garapan from the Carolinian Affairs Office to American Memorial Park ending at Coral Tree Avenue.<\/p>\n
The event will feature 18 different cultures, from the indigenous people of the CNMI to Kosrae, Palau, Chuuk, Japan, Bangladesh, Korea, China, the Philippines, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, Marquesas, and Cook Islands.<\/p>\n
The different cultures will showcase their heritage through performing arts, cuisine, and arts and crafts. There will also be demonstration booths.<\/p>\n
MVA managing director Perry Tenorio said the festival is not just about the indigenous people of the CNMI but also about other cultures here.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have guest workers and other cultures that help play an important role in the CNMI\u2019s success,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Tenorio said they decided to hold the festival in September because it is considered a low season for tourists.<\/p>\n
Low seasons start usually at the end of summer and start picking up early to mid-November and then end between February and start picking up once again in the beginning of spring.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hope is that if visitors come here and attend the event, they would recommend it to their friends or family members and that they come in the future, as an added value, just to attend the annual event. So that we get people coming in during the low peak season,\u201d Tenorio said.<\/p>\n
He said they intend to make this festival an annual event.<\/p>\n
He noted that MVA is the \u201csole driver\u201d of the event through part-funding it but they are also collaborating with PDM Promoters, Inc. and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs\u2019 Council for Arts and Culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cI encourage the community to come out and enjoy the event. This is very important that the community involves itself and support MVA on this event so that visitors can interact with the community as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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