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Parade caps first festival of cultures
A parade of cultures last Saturday capped the monthlong inaugural International Festival of Cultures, the newest signature event of the Marianas Visitors Authority.
Beginning at 5:30pm at the Carolinian Affairs Office in Garapan, the parade ended near the entrance of the Paseo de Marianas.
Tourists were drawn from T Galleria, I Love Saipan, and other venues to the parade, with many taking pictures and video from the roadside.
Chamorro and Carolinian dancers led the parade, followed by the Saipan Awaodori Team, the Japanese Society of the Northern Marianas and representatives of the Marshall Islands, Tahiti, Marquesas Islands, Cook Islands, the Philippines, American Samoa, Tonga, Bangladesh, and Fiji.
MVA managing director Perry Tenorio described the monthlong event a success.
“We’re talking with our partners and we want to see this every year. We are very happy with the result,” he said.
He said the festival had been in the works for many years and that they are happy that it finally took off this year.
He said they’ll be sitting down with stakeholders to assess what they can add to next year’s festival. “If the community has recommendations we welcome it,” he added.
The parade ended at the Paseo de Marianas where the last night of the International Festival of Cultures took place.
