Native American Day will be held on Saturday, September 28 on the Bankhead Theater Plaza, featuring the American Indian Center Children’s Pow Wow. Sponsored by Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, the event is the first of seven free community events held each season to honor diverse cultural traditions through the sharing of music, dance, art, crafts, and food. Native American Day will be followed in October by Cheza Nami’s Taste of Africa, Filipino Barrio Fiesta, and Diwali Festival of Lights. In 2020, events are scheduled to celebrate African American Day, Lunar New Year and Hispanic Heritage Day.
This is the fourth year the Native American Day Celebration will be held on the Bankhead Plaza. Organized by Mary Putoff of the American Indian Center, the Children’s Pow Wow will feature a dance contest for boys and girls up to age 18. The program will begin at noon with the introduction and welcome of local dignitaries. Visitors can explore a 20-foot Lakota tipi which will be erected on the grassy area, as well as visit a craft station for students. During the event, vendors will offer Native American crafts and food for sale. The winners of the dance contest will be announced at the close of the event at 5 p.m.
African and Filipino traditions will be celebrated in a full weekend of culture October 5-6. On Saturday, the eighth annual “A Taste of Africa” will offer a first-hand glimpse/experience into African culture. The event showcases the vibrant music and movement that is central to the cultures of the African continent and diaspora with performances on the outdoor stage throughout the day. African food, as well as a variety of activities, will be offered including children’s crafts, face painting, vendor booths, and displays of art and other African crafts.
On October 6, Filipino Barrio Fiesta will honor Filipino American History Month. Co-presented by Livermore Fil-Am, the fourth annual event will feature youth music and dance performances by Maddie B, Joseph Galang, Mini Mix’d and Freestyle Dance Collective. A “Heart of My People” award will be presented to young entrepreneur Simone Hufana, creator of the first coloring book representing women of color, “Color Her Story.” Artifacts and script will be exhibited by Bayani Art and Kristian Kabuay, as well as a historical display by the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies, Filipino food, crafts, and activities.
Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center’s fourth annual celebration of Diwali will be held on October 20 beginning at 11 a.m. Honoring the traditions of the Festival of Lights, a holiday celebrated in India and throughout Southeast Asia, the event will feature lively and colorful Bollywood and Classical Indian dances, as well as a storyteller who will capture the history and meaning of the holiday. World-renowned musician Ustad Lal Bhatti Ji will perform on Dhol. There will be a craft area for children as well as booths offering Bollywood apparel, jewelry, diya decorations, and rangoli art.
The free family-oriented cultural events are part of Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center’s educational outreach efforts. They will continue into 2020 with African-American Day on January 11 and Lunar New Year on January 25, as well as Hispanic Heritage Day on May 9. For more information, visit the official Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center website or email [email protected].
