Library Hosts 14th Annual Asian-American Festival

Tulsa City-County Library to celebrate Asian-American customs

The Korean Angels of Tulsa will perform a traditional Korean fan dance at Tulsa City-County Library’s Asian-American Festival on Saturday, June 4 at the Martin Regional Library. Pictured top row, left to right, are: Ashley Nichols, Grace Lee, Yireh Oh, Natalie Reyes. Pictured bottom row, left to right, are: Grace Love Choi, Eunji Kim, Jaylee Byrd.  

Celebrate and learn about the customs and traditions of the Asian-American heritage with entertaining, educational events for the entire family. The Tulsa City-County Library will present the 14th annual Asian-American Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 4 at the Martin Regional Library.
  Explore the colorful cultures of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and other countries in Asia. Admission to the festival is free.
The event will feature martial arts demonstrations, traditional dance, drumming and music presentations, authentic arts and crafts booths. There will also be interactive educational booths featuring hands-on crafts and activities for kids plus a food concession with traditional Asian cuisine provided by Sushi Train (Japanese/Korean cuisine) and Lone Wolf Banh Mi (Vietnamese and French Fusion).
  The booths will host displays and demonstrations from the Tulsa Japanese Friendship Club, Happy Seniors Asian American Association of Tulsa OK Inc., Tulsa Go Club, East Asian Institute/Confucius Institute at the University of Oklahoma, Indonesian Club, India Association of Greater Tulsa, YWCA of Tulsa, Tokyo in Tulsa, La Petite Camionnette,Tulsa Partners Language and Culture Bank; and Utsunomiya, Japan Sister City.
An anime viewing room will be open to festival goers throughout the duration of the festival. Scheduled presentations and performances will be staggered throughout the event. Presentations and performances include: a Japanese tea ceremony, Japanese drumming by Owasso Public School’s Ohitsuji Taiko, Lilik and Company World Fusion Dance Ensemble, a performance by the Toe Tappers , a traditional Korean drum dance performed by Di Dim Dol, Josh Massad’s PanchMahaBhuta Orchestra, Tai Chi with Thomas Academy of Taiji Kung Fu, a Kendo demonstration by Shin Sou Fu Kan Tulsa Kendo Club and a traditional fan dance performed by the Korean Angels of Tulsa.
   In addition, the festival will feature an exhibition of children’s artwork from Kyoto, Japan, courtesy of the Office of the Oklahoma Secretary of State. Oklahoma has enjoyed a sister-state relationship with Japan’s Kyoto Prefecture since 1985 when Governor George Nigh signed an agreement establishing the relationship.
“The two sister entities will promote interchanges in various areas with the object of deepening mutual understanding and goodwill,” the document states.
The children’s artwork provides a window into the daily lives of children in Kyoto and has been featured at the Asian-American Festival since the festival’s inception.
The event is sponsored and funded by the Tulsa Library Trust, with special assistance from The Mary K. Chapman Foundation, George Kaiser Family Foundation, Nam Hai Oriental Supermarket, Tulsa Global Alliance and Tulsa City-County Library Staff Association.