Courtesy Photo
‘The Winds of Asia’ will blow
through Eugene this weekend
■The Oregon Asian Celebration
happens Saturday and Sunday
at the Lane County Fairgrounds
By Arlene Juan
for the Emerald
For the past 16 years, the Eugene
Springfield Asian Council has en
hanced appreciation of Asian and
Asian American cultural heritage by
holding the annual Oregon Asian
Celebration. The two-day event this
year will reflect the theme “The
Winds of Asia,” and feature Asian
cultures extending from the Middle
East to the Far East.
The celebration will run 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
Admission for adults is $4 and chil
dren under the age of 12 get in free.
“Through dance, music, art,
foods, songs, cooking demonstra
tions, children’s games, martial arts
and crafts, people (gain) a greater ap
preciation of diversity, understand
ing and tolerance for cultural differ
ences,” spokeswoman Carrie
Matsushita said. “The Asian Cele
bration is a showcase of the various
Asian ethnic groups and demon
strates a wide range of diversity
within the Asian community. ”
This year’s celebration will fill
the Eugene Convention Center at
the Lane County Fairgrounds Satur
day and Sunday with an array of en
tertainment and delicacies from the
different corners of Asia.
The celebration attracts visitors
from all over Oregon, California,
Hawaii, Utah and Canada, event co
chairman Ken Nagao said.
“The very first Asian Celebration
was a half-day event with 500 visi
tors, 7 food booths and 20 arts and
crafts booths. Now, it is becoming
more recognized and attracting
nearly 15,000 to 18,000 people each
year,” he said.
Community support is impera
tive to the celebration’s success.
‘The Asian Celebration is a
showcase of the various >
Asian ethnic groups and
demonstrates a wide range
of diversity within the Asian
community.”
Carrie Matsushita
Asian Celebration
spokeswoman
“Every one of the estimated
2,000 people involved in this year’s
festival is a volunteer,” Nagao said.
“The support of the community is
outstanding.”
The set-up in the center will be the
same as last year, said Tony Lum,
event co-chairman and entertain
ment chairman. There will be two
main stages: one designated as the
main performance stage and one in
the Exhibition Hall for martial arts
performances. A smaller stage will be
located in the Atrium Courtyard for
small craft demonstrations.
“The celebration is where differ
ent Asian cultures can show off
their skills, craftsmanship and en
tertainment,” Lum said.
The Chinese Lion Dance, Japan
ese Koto, and Middle Eastern Dance
are just a few of the performances
that will be featured at the event.
There will an abundance of culi
nary specialties, including Chinese,
Nepalese, Korean, Indian, Pak
istani, Japanese, Philippine and Tai
wanese cuisine.
Demonstrations will vary from
craftsmaking and cooking to martial
arts activities. The celebration will
also entertain children with story
telling, origami, lantern making,
taiko drumming and more.
“All proceeds from the event will
benefit the scholastic community
by sponsoring Asian American cul
tural education activities, making
scholarship grants, and establishing
an Asian American Cultural Educa
tion Center in the Eugene area, ” Na
gao said.
The organizers of this event
strongly believe that the Asian Cele
bration is an educational and enter
tainment opportunity.
“More and more people comment
how much they appreciate this festi
val in the community,” Matsushita
said. “Teachers use the festival as a
learning tool for students, visitors
learn about the diversity of customs
and traditions of various Asian eth
nic groups, and the business com
munity, especially the tourism in
dustry, benefits from the room
nights booked by out-of-town visi
tors and vendors.”
Lourdes Humphries, secretary of
the Eugene Philippine American
Association, thinks the Asian Cele
bration is a positive contribution to
the community.
“There is a sense of togetherness as
different Asian cultures come togeth
er to enjoy the festivities,” she said.
Arlene Juan is a freelance reporter
for the Oregon Daily Emerald.
Women of Color Coalition
Building Conference
(Women as Leaders Working Towards Global Justice)
University of Oregon: EMU
February 16th and 17th, 2002
• Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(workshops)
• Sunday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
(dinner). 6:00 p.m. to
9:00 p.m. (performances)
s5 tickets @ EMU Ticket Office (for dinner & performances only)
Contact Darlene Dadras or Mina Kirkova at the ASUO Women's Center (541) 346-4095.
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/-women/
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“The Winds of Asia”
FEBRUARY 16 & 17 2002
LANE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
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ADULTS $4 • 12 & UNDER FREE
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