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By DAVID S. ROSEN, ARLENE NISSON
LASSIN, HOUSTON CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENTS |
A number of Alief residents are preparing
to take part in this year's Houston International Festival
Saturday-Sunday and April 28-29 in the area surrounding City Hall,
Tranquility Park and Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston.
Hours are 1-10 p.m. Saturdays and 1-8 p.m. Sundays.
Spotlighting China, the 36th annual festival will feature acrobats,
Shaolin Kung Fu, cooking, costume shows and dancing. There will be an
arts market, craft demonstrations, interactive exhibits and a variety of
entertainment.
More than 250 performers will take part in the event's parade, said
Chinese Civic Center president Jun Yang, whose organization helped
contribute more than 40 types of costumes for the festivities. The
costumes portray different ethnic groups and climates in China, Yang
said.
The parade is on Saturday and begins at 1 p.m. at the corner of Lamar
and Bagby.
The 21 performances that will be given on the festival's main stage have
been organized by the Chinese Civic Center, 5905 Sovereign Drive, Yang
said.
Miss Chinatown will be in attendance, along with about 40 young people
wearing ethnic costumes and Olympic mascots.
"This will be a very exciting event for all the Chinese, as well as all
the people of Houston to enjoy and see the culture of China and enjoy
the diversity of culture in Houston," Yang said.
About 40-50 students from Houston Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, located
within the Chinese Civic Center, will also take part in the event, said
academy employee Shi Xing Hao.
They will perform a lion dance, an ancient tradition that symbolizes
when a lion in a mountain village in China decided against eating humans
in the town, Hao said.
Festival spokesman Tracey Golden said this year's event is expected to
draw thousands of people, especially since 150,000 Chinese-Americans
live in the Greater Houston area.
The event will feature a 120-foot replica of the Great Wall of China,
the Shenzhen Acrobatic Circus and a business delegation, Golden said.
Tickets are available online and at all Houston H-E-B stores.
Early-bird discount tickets are $8 if purchased by Wednesday. Advance
discount tickets are $10 afterwards.
Admission at the gate is $13. Tickets for children ages 4-11 are $3,
while children age 3 and under are admitted free.
The Fox 26 iFest Family Passport with two adult tickets, two children's
tickets, free parking and discounted food/beverage coupons is $30 and
available only online. Group discounts are also available.
For a schedule, visit www.ifest.org, or call 713-654-8808.
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