International festivals reflect Houston’s diversity
This spring, Houston offers a wide variety of festivals and events featuring music, food, games, dance and films highlighting the cultures that are woven into the rich tapestry of the city. If you prefer to simply sample the activities or want to jump in and enjoy learning new games and dance steps, there is something for every taste.
Puro Tejano Fest keeps Tejano music alive in Houston on March 8 at the Azteca Fairgrounds, beginning at noon and continuing until 11 p.m.
Advance tickets are $10 at EventBrite and seating is first come, first served. Artists include The Voice Jay Perez, Jaime Y Los Chamacos, Ram Herrera, The Hometown Boys, Shelly Lares, David Olivarez and Grupo Negami.
» Enjoy Family Day: A
Nowruz Celebration in Honor of the Persian New Year on March 23 at the Stafford Center, 10505 Cash Road. The event begins at 1 p.m and continues until 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and are available at www.showclix.com/event/NowruzFestival2014.
» This year, April 26-27 and May 3-4, downtown Houston will transform itself into the land down under as I-Fest celebrates all things Australian. May 1 will be a special night of paying the homage to world’s largest continent with “Celebrate Australia” — a night meant to tanta- lize tastebuds. The evening will feature a cook-off challenge between celebrity chefs showcasing Texas and Australian barbecue, set to the tune of original Australian music. The festival features more than 40 restaurants specializing in a smorgasbord of cuisines, as well as music.
Visit www.ifest.org. » The 2nd annual
Tejano Fest will be held at Humble’s Civic Arena at 8301 Will Clayton Parkway. The music begins March 29, from 1-10 p.m. Advance tickets are $15. For information, call 832-324-5049.
April 12, from 10 a.m. to p.m., kicks off Houston’s 21st annual Japan Festival 2014 at Hermann Park. The two-day event celebrates traditional and modern Japanese culture, including cuisine, dance, music, martial arts demonstrations and merchandise from Japan. Admission is free. For more information, call 713-963-0121.
» Plan to attend Houston’s Celtic Festival and Highland Games April 26-27, at the Houston Farm and Ranch Club, One Abercrombie in west Houston. Headline entertainers are Brian McNeill, Rathkeltair, Flashpoint and Murder the Stout. This fest celebrates the Celtic
influence on early Texas and the hearty women and men who shaped the state. Enjoy, food, spectator sports, a few Irish ditties, dancing and perhaps a bagpipe or two.
» Dancers and dance aficianados won’t want to miss the annual Houston
Oriental Dance Festival, May 2-4 at The Venue on 34th Street in Houston. The festival’s VIP early bird tickets include workshops, master classes and the gala show on Saturday evening. A competition on Sunday will conclude the festival.
» The 14th annual Houston Dragon Boat Festival sets sail at 8:30 a.m. on May » 3 at the park at Allen’s7Landing. You can see more than 30 teams racing throughout the day with cultural performances, educational cultural booths, food booths and games.
For information, go to houstondragonboat.com/ festival.
» Cinco de Mayo, May 5, a celebration honoring the defeat of the French army by Mexican soldiers, will be observed with a downtown parade, followed by mariachi music and dancers at the Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park.
» Bringing a taste of Greek culture to the Bayou
City for 19 years, the Greek
Festival has been held in mid-May at the church at 1100 Eldridge Parkway, featuring tours of the church, authentic foods, dancers, outdoor marketplace and family friendly activities. For four days, beginning May 15, St. Basil’s Greek Orthodox Congregation will once again share its heritage in this fundraiser to underwrite parish upkeep and many ministries and activities in the community. On May 18, the Niko Niko World Gyro Eating Championship will be held, with $4,000 in prize money. Last year, more than 6,000 visitors attended. Festival hours are May 15: 4-9 p.m.; May 16: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., free admission, 2-10 p.m. $3 for adults and free for children 10 and under; May 17: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., $3 for adults and free for children 10 and under; and May 18: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., $3 for adults and free for children 10 and under. Parking on the festival grounds for $5.
Dance and drumming await at the fourth annual Kipekee African Diaspora Dance & Drum Festival, May 23-25 — Memorial Day Weekend — presented by KoumanKe’le’ African Dance & Drum Ensemble.The festival will be held at Texas Southern University’s Student Recreation & Fitness Center, 3100 Cleburn. Activities will include adult drum and dance workshops from Guinea, Congo, Senegal, and Brazil, children’s drum and dance workshops from Guinea West Africa, Capoeira class with live instrumentation from Kalunga N’Gol.
For information, call 832-859-2156.