Previous Story
Int’l cultural fest at the Paseo
|
Posted on Sep 23 2019
Local healers, courtesy of the Indigenous Affairs Office, give spectators at the International Festival of Cultures last Saturday a chance to see how traditional medicine works as a cure. (MARC A. VENUS)
The Marianas Visitors Authority celebrated its 5th Annual International Festival of Cultures at the Paseo de Marianas in Garapan last Friday and Saturday. The event kicked off with a Parade of Cultures that began with a walk from the Carolinian Affairs Office in Garapan to the Paseo de Marianas.
Although the event was short on crowd size Friday night due to the Vibe Fest Marianas happening at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, the MVA saw over 100 spectators on its final night last Saturday
The parade was led by 2019 Miss Marianas Shannon Sasamoto and members of the varying cultural groups in the CNMI. Shortly after participants reached the venue, MVA held a short fashion show to showcase the cultural clothing from the many different cultural groups on island.
MVA Community Project coordinator Jack Aranda said the event was slated to be held for just for one day, but the MVA decided to add another day due to the arriving tourists from Japan, courtesy of Skymark Airlines Inc.
Returning for this year’s celebration were the communities of Korea, Japan, Tonga/Fiji/Samoa, the Federated State of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, China, Cook Islands/Marquesas/Tahiti, the Marianas, and Bangladesh.
The festival used to be held every Saturday throughout September. There was no immediate word why the festival’s duration has been scaled back.
