| First Annual Inland Empire Lunar New Year's Festival to be held in Downtown Riverside, January 29, 2011
The first Annual Inland Empire Lunar New Year's Festival will be held in Downtown Riverside, January 29, 2011. The event offers a month long cultural celebration to commemorate Asian culture and honor its significant impact on the Inland Empire region of California. From the building of southern California railroads, working in the regional citrus groves, cultivating higher education, to leading in advance in modern technology, Asian Americans have helped to develop the region in significant ways. The Lunar New Year's Festival will serve as a month long multicultural celebration of a full range of Inland Empire Asian cultures, community, and the engagement of the residents. On January 29, the Lunar New Year, from 10 am through 6 pm, visitors to downtown Riverside will be transported to the beauty of the Ancient Orient, beginning with a spectacular lunar parade at 10 am, traditional Asian music, dance performance, art displays and day long exhibitions of Karate, Kung Fu, Kabuki, Taekwondo and range of thrilling Asian themed demonstrations of various kinds conduced by community group and professionals alike. While at the event, visitors can take a stroll through an Asian market place and experience a taste of the Far East before taking time to shop for cultural treasures in the Oriental Market Place. Kids will want to be sure to stop by Children's village for origami, face painting, and hands on arts and craft. At 6 pm, the entire event will culminate in a spectacular firework display filling the Southern California night sky in celebration of the Asian New Year. 2011 will be the year of the rabbit. Riverside Council Member Paul Davis said, "We are thrilled at the prospect of hosting the first Annual Lunar New Year's Festival in Downtown Riverside, adding another cultural attraction to our beautiful city and attracting visitors from the region. We hope to establish Lunar New Year Festival as a tradition now and for years to come." Information on the festival itinerary, vendor list, and entertainment can be found an ongoing basis as the event develops by logging on to http://LunarFestRiverside.org and following on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Riveside's Asian Pacific Lunar Festival.
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