Lakewood's Sister Cities Festival April 25-27, 2014
Lakewood¹s Sister Cities International Festival showcases food, performances and art from more than 10 countries
April 25-27 event at Pierce College honors cultures of Afghanistan, China, India Japan, Korea, Philippines and other countries
LAKEWOOD, Wash. (April 9, 2014) ‹ The Lakewood Sister Cities Association
(LSCA) is hosting its annual Sister Cities International Festival from April 25 - 27. The festival highlights one of its sister/friendship cities each year. This year, Okinawa City will be highlighted through the festival¹s main performances. In past years, Lakewood¹s additional sister cities of Bauang, Danzhou and Gimhae were highlighted. The event will take place at the Pierce College Fort Steilacoom campus at 9401 Farwest Drive SW in Lakewood.
The free, family-friendly event will honor the rich cultures of the Philippines, China, Korea, Japan and more. Activities will include cultural entertainment, art exhibits, and international cuisines and arts and crafts vendors touting jewelry, art and other goods.
"We¹re so proud to once again host the Sister Cities International Festival," says Ellie Chambers-Grady, economic development manager for the City of Lakewood. ³This event is a fantastic way to showcase and celebrate Lakewood¹s diversity with our community members."
The feature act is a special performance by members of the renowned Miyagi-Ryu Minoruno Kai-Megumi Matsuda Dance Institute from Okinawa City, Japan. Other entertainment includes performers and troupes from Korea, Guam, India, Thailand, Samoa, Afghanistan, Philippines and Ireland.
Additional highlights include:
- € A public market featuring arts and crafts and ethnic food vendors.
- € A Kids Corner with face painting, calligraphy lessons, origami and more.
A full schedule of activities and performances, as well as a list of vendors, can be found at www.lsca.us.
"The Lakewood Sister Cities Association works year-round to promote international harmony," says Connie Coleman-Lacadie, LSCA president. "This festival gives us the opportunity to share our important work with the rest of our community, and we¹re very excited to do so. Moreover, we are very excited that this year's Sister Cities event allows us to partner with the ArtsFest Celebration on April 25th and 27th."
The Lakewood Sister Cities Festival - ArtsFest Celebration is proudly sponsored by Clover Park and Lakewood Rotary Clubs, Pierce County Crime Stoppers, Lakewood Family YMCA, Asian Pacific Cultural Center, The Ranger, KLAY Radio, City of Lakewood and Pierce College.
About Lakewood Sister Cities Association
Lakewood Sister Cities Association is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization affiliated with the City of Lakewood, one of Washington State¹s most diverse cities. Ethnicities of Lakewood residents include: Korean, German, Irish, English, Mexican, Japanese, African, Norwegian, Vietnamese, Italian, French, Filipino, Chinese, Scottish, Puerto Rican, Cuban and Asian cultures including India and other categories. As a member of the Sister Cities International, Lakewood subscribes to an underlying principle that the world¹s peace and progress can be assured by people committing themselves to friendship and cooperation. For more information, visit: www.lsca.us.
About Lakewood, Washington
Lakewood is the second largest city in Pierce County and strategically located between Sea-Tac International Airport and Olympia, the state¹s capital. The city is home to 60,000 residents and nearly 3,800 businesses. Lakewood is the host community to Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Camp Murray, two major military installations. The city offers numerous recreational and cultural activities for locals, day-trippers and weekend travelers seeking hidden treasures in the Northwest. Lakewood is a sought after destination for vacationers looking for outdoor fun, foodies craving international cuisine and dog lovers traveling with canine companions. For more information, visit: www.cityoflakewood.us.