3rd Annual Marianas Ukulele Festival on Oct. 21

Ukulele players perform in the finale of last year’s 2nd Annual Marianas Ukulele Festival at the Garapan Fishing Base. (Contributed Photo)

The 3rd Annual Marianas Ukulele Festival is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2017 at the Garapan Fishing Base from 12pm to 9pm. The Marianas Ukulele Festival is a fun, family event featuring continuous live entertainment, local food and arts and crafts booths, ukulele workshops/demonstrations, raffle drawings, and surprises. It is free and open to the public.

Several highly established ukulele performers from Asia will be featured, including: JazzoomCafe, Mariko Uchiumi, Yusuke Saito and Nanaco from Japan; Blues Lee, Vivian Kim and Ukulele Ensemble from Korea; and Vanessa Ding from Taiwan. These off-island ukulele professionals will also be giving special live performances at several local schools and the Man’Amko Center on Friday, October 20.

Local CNMI performers include: Saipan Community School, Alana’ia, Tata Lino Olopai & Ray Tebuteb, Sunset Cruisers, FESTPAC Warriors, Da Kine, Demalyn Pagarao, Jose Carreon & Juan Ichihara, and the Ukituki Band, among others. Workshops are scheduled from 12pm to 2pm, and open mic sessions will also be available for spontaneous performances.

Confirmed sponsors so far include: Marianas Visitors Authority, Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture, T Galleria DFS, Fiesta Resort and Spa, KKMP radio, Pacific Development Inc., IT&E, Island Training Solutions, Imperial Pacific (CNMI), Marianas Medical Center, Robert T. Torres Law Office, Serenti Hotel, Triple J Enterprises, Marianas Variety, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, and Dave’s Electronics.

Any ukulele players/groups interested in performing at the festival should contact Larry Lee at marianasukefest@gmail.com or telephone 285-7127, or Gordon Marciano at 285-1195. Anyone interested in supporting the Festival through cash or in-kind contributions should please contact the same.

The Marianas Ukulele Festival Association is a registered, non-profit organization whose mission is: to promote and perpetuate ukulele music and heritage by bringing people of all ages together to share the love of ukulele music; and, to create an avenue for people of all cultures to share the island warmth and Hafa Adai Tirow Spirit through the enjoyment of music and culture. One of the goals of the annual Marianas Ukulele Festival is to establish the Northern Marianas as a regionally renowned cultural and entertainment destination.

For more information, please visit www.marianasukulelefestival.org. (PR)