Food, arts and fun as festival opens today

The Flame Tree Arts Festival kicks off a four-day celebration today, April 24, at 6pm at Civic Center in Susupe. Opening ceremonies will be held at 6pm, followed by a full line-up of entertainment until 10pm.

“The next four days are going to be packed with activity,” said Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture executive director Cecilia Taitano-Celes. “Everyone is invited to come and join the fun.”

This year’s celebration includes over 50 art booths, 20 food vendors, and non-stop live performances. Another addition to this year’s festival will be Arts in Education Workshops on skills including traditional medicine making, Carolinian téér (woven skirts) making, pandanas weaving, da’ok oil extraction, mwar making, bead making, Chamorro galaide (canoe) model making, and more. A Carolinian trolling canoe will also be constructed during the festival, and cultural games will be held on the weekend.

“It is these knowledge and skills that we must continue to embrace and preserve for our children, for tomorrow and for many generations to enjoy,” said Festival Committee chair Ramona T. Rebuenog.

Thursday night’s entertainment line-up at the opening ceremony includes Southern Cross Warriors (6:30pm), Inatuas Cultural Dancers (7pm), Lo’ngo’wo’fisch Dancers (7:30pm), Palau Kids (8pm), Rota (8:30pm), Guam (9pm), Talabwogh Men Stick Dancers (9:30pm), and Ed Kaipat (10pm.).

Raffle tickets will also be sold for $1 each to win a roundtrip ticket to anywhere in Asia where Northwest flies.

This year’s major sponsors are DFS Galleria, PTI, Bank of Guam, Northwest Airlines, and Palms Resort. Additional sponsors include Marianas Visitors Authority, Marpac, and Coco-cola. Celes-Taitano also credits the Department of Public Works, the divisions of Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, and numerous other public and private agencies for making this year’s festival possible.

The Flame Tree Arts Festival is Micronesia’s largest annual arts and culture celebration, featuring traditional and contemporary visual, performing and culinary arts from the region and beyond. Visit the official Flame Tree Arts Festival website at http://flametreeartsfestival.googlepages.com for a complete entertainment schedule, list of vendors, and other information. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]