Tafesilafa'i Festival 14th |
||
| Location | Aquarium of the Pacific Long Beach, CA 90802 |
|
| Dates | July 29, 2010 - August 01, 2010 - CONFIRMED! | |
| Description: | 14th Annual Tafesilafaâi Festivals celebrate the thoughts, art and culture of Southern California's Pacific Islander Communities. There is something for everyone at Tafesilafaâi. This yearâs 14th annual festival is no exception. The week long celebration of cultural diversity among Pacific Islanders start July 25 and end August 1, 2010. Admission to the Festival is free; participating youth groups will be given discounted tickets to the Aquarium and there will be other fun things to do in Long Beach that week. Please carpool. Paid parking is available at nearby parking structures and metered parking at the Marina. FREE shuttles are available from nearby churches and hotels. Discounted hotel accommodations are available throughout the city. Last year we recorded over 31,000 visitors to the Aquarium during the last 4 days of Tafesilafaâi. Tafesilafaâi started in 1997 as a conversation about meaning making in the Samoan community, and it has grown into an inquiry into ways of being in the urban Pacific Islander communities in California. The Festival is an integration of indigenous, cultural, and religious values in ways that accentuate the importance of family, community, and others. These values are expressed through music, dances, narratives, and rituals. Participants in Tafesilafaâi deepen their faith, hone their talents, and heighten their cultural awareness as they commune with others, reaffirming respect for God, family, self and the greater community. This yearâs theme underscores an intricate connection between darkness and light and how an integration of both can lead to a fulfilled life. Many events will be in the evening so bring a light sweater or a jacket and come spend a week with us at the Aquarium. Tafesilafaâi starts Sunday July 25th with family centering. Each family puts on their family âtonigaâ or uniform and attends service at their place of worship. Uniform is a sign of solidarity and, when found in community, signifies diversity. After centering, each family is encouraged to brunch together or they may accept an invitation to brunch with others. Monday July 26th is the 24 hour prayer marathon, where prayers, thoughts and petitions, gathered throughout the year, are sounded off and prayed for at each participating place of worship. Community members sign up for 30 minute prayer sessions. Tuesday July 27th finds us wrapping up the prayer marathon and candlelight vigil as youth groups put the finishing touches on their dances, songs, performances and cultural sharing. Wednesday July 28th is friend-raising and set up day at the Aquarium of the Pacific. The tents are raised, the stage is put together, the booths and sinks are hooked up, the âumuâ is put in place and the decoration set. In the evening, the community is afforded an opportunity to hear from a leader about their faith journey to success. Thursday evening July 29th, after the Aquarium closes, visitors will be treated to authentic island dance performances. Each group will put on authentic island performances in their unique vernacular. At the festival you can purchase authentic island products, experience unique island performances, songs and dances, take part in preparing island cuisines in an above ground "umu" and experience island spirituality. Friday July 30th when the sun begins to set, another group of performers take the stage to share their ideas of what it means to be authentic, cathartic and alive. Your children will have the opportunity, to sleep with the fish at the Aquarium Friday night. The necessary enrollment forms are available on line. On Saturday July 31st, you will experience island rituals and an âavaâ ceremony early Saturday morning. Dances, songs, talent exhibitions and games follow, or you can walk the beach, take a catamaran out to the bay. Spend the entire day near the water, retiring to your hotel room exhausted, tanned and relaxed. Sunday August 1st opens with community centering at 11am followed by spiritual dances, performances, songs and hymns from the community until dark. | |
| Contact name | Katrina Hidalgo | |
| Phone | 562 628 9282 | |
| Event Website | http://www.tafesilafai.org | |
| Year # | 14 | |
| Art/Craft Space price | $600 10x10 | |
| Application URL: | http://www.tafesilafai.org/images/Tafe2010Vendor.pdf | |
 |
||
|
Search for more info on this event: Google for: Long Beach Tafesilafa'i Festival 14th |
||
| Maps and Directions (from Google Maps) | ||
For ended craft show, fairs and festivals, please go to our archive page.
RSS