FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Naomi Hattori
Phone: 312.744.1379
Cell: 312.718.1186
E-mail: naomi.hattori@cityofchicago.org
CHICAGO SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ON MILLENNIUM PARK’S CHASE PROMENADE SOUTH, AUGUST 23 – 27, 2010
CHICAGO, IL (August, 2010) – This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program and in celebration, the 5th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival will be held on Millennium Park’s Chase Promenade South on August 23 – 27, 2010 from 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. With all 28 of Chicago’s international sister cities represented, this festival truly represents the diversity and international spirit that exists in the city.
The festival will transform Millennium Park’s Chase Promenade South into an international village filled with food, music, dance, and merchants. Visitors to the festival will be able to sample international cuisine such as Ukrainian crepes or Colombian empanadas, shop for African art or fair trade goods, all while watching traditional Korean dancers visiting from Busan, Korea or Chinese acrobats from “Cirque Shanghai: Cloud 9”.
Chicago is also celebrating the Year of Mexico and to highlight the sister city relationship with Mexico City, Casita Azul Folk Art – one of the many participating merchandise vendors – will have a Huichol Yarn Artist onsite who will demonstrate this unique art form by creating colorful yarn and bead masterpieces on beeswax.
New this year!
- The International Festival will feature a Cultural Corner that is specifically geared towards children ages 5 to 10 years old, but provides activities that the entire family can enjoy. Children will be able to gain exposure to the world through hands-on activities such as creating traditional Japanese paper fans and Greek shields.
- “Chopin in the Park” celebrates 200 years of Chopin and the 50th Anniversary of the Chicago -Warsaw Sister City relationship. Daily performances will be held at Millennium Park’s Monroe Street Balcony.
- Fans can experience the World’s Game by joining the Chicago Fire Soccer Club on the Great Lawn where they will be able to take shots at an inflatable goal and meet the Fire’s mascot – Sparky.
- The Chicago Sister Cities International Program in collaboration with Share Your Soles will launch a city-wide shoe drive at the International Festival, where Share Your Soles will have shoe drop-off bins available. The public is encouraged to bring their gently-used shoes – men’s, women’s and children’s shoes are all needed, especially gym shoes and cleats.
Participating performers in the 5th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival are outlined in the following week-at-a-glance calendar. The performance stage will be inside the festival tent located on Millennium Park’s Chase Promenade South.
Monday, August 23, 2010
|
Time |
Performer |
| 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Busan Metropolitan Dance Company representing Busan, Republic of Korea |
| 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. | Chopin 200 Years Performance by Jaroslaw Golembiowski representing Warsaw, Poland |
| 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. | TaalFusion representing Delhi, India |
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
|
Time |
Performer |
| 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. | Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago representing Gothenburg, Sweden |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Grupo Cumbé representing Bogotá, Colombia |
| 12:15 – 12: 30 p.m. | Busan Metropolitan Dance Company representing Busan, Republic of Korea |
| 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. | 50th Anniversary Celebration |
| 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. | Fashion Show presented by ZZAZZ Productions, Global |
| 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. | BAM! representing Chicago, USA |
| 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Tarima Son representing Mexico City, Mexico |
| 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. | Pieptone! representing Hamburg, Germany |
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
|
Time |
Performer |
| 11:00 – 11:15 a.m. | Cirque Shanghai: Cloud 9 representing Shanghai, China |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Chopin 200 Years Performance representing Warsaw, Poland |
| 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. | Sam Burckhardt Quartet representing Lucerne, Switzerland |
| 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. | Trinity Irish Dancers representing Galway, Ireland |
| 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Tango on the Town Festival, Global |
Thursday, August 26, 2010
|
Time |
Performer |
| 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. | Ester Hana, Global |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll representing Prague, Czech Republic |
| 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. | Compass Rose Quartet, Global |
| 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. | DanceDuo Studio representing Vilnius, Lithuania |
| 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Suktinis representing Vilnius, Lithuania |
Friday, August 27, 2010
|
Time |
Performer |
| 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. | Corbinez representing Amman, Jordan |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Irish Music School of Chicago representing Galway, Ireland |
| 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. | School of Boyovyi Hopak representing Kyiv, Ukraine |
| 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. | Nidal Ibourk representing Casablanca, Morocco |
| 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. | Heather Bambrick representing Toronto, Canada |
*Performance times are subject to change
Please visit www.chicagosistercities.com for updates.
Daily culinary demo sessions presented by Kendall College:
- August 23, 1:45 – 2:45 p.m.: Swiss Cuisine Demos
- August 24, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Swedish Cuisine Demos
- August 25 – 27, 12:15 – 1:00 p.m.: Czech, French and Irish Cuisine Demos, respectively
Daily cultural hands-on presentations:
- August 23, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
- August 24, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: National Museum of Mexican Art
- August 25, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: National Hellenic Museum
- August 26, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: Chicago Japanese American Historical Society
- August 27, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: Chicago Cultural Alliance
International Food Vendors Include:
Bowl Square representing Busan, Republic of Korea
Carbón representing Mexico City, Mexico
Kasia’s Deli representing Warsaw, Poland
Macondo Colombian Coffee & Empanadas representing Bogotá, Colombia
Mazzone’s Italian Ice representing Milan, Italy
Sandy’s Restaurant representing Belgrade, Serbia
Shokolad Pastry and Café representing Kyiv, Ukraine
Stella’s Market & Catering, Global
International Merchandise Vendors Include:
because I like it! representing Galway, Ireland
Casita Azul Folk Art representing Mexico City, Mexico
E & J Designs representing Mexico City, Mexico
Global Elements – the GET company, Global
Jan Lee Design representing Shanghai, China
Mata Traders representing Delhi, India
Oriental Arts Center representing Shenyang, China
Ten Thousand Villages, Global
The Left Bank representing Paris, France
What the Traveler Saw representing Accra, Ghana
Ziyad Brothers Importing representing Amman, Jordan
About Chicago Sister Cities International Program
The Chicago Sister Cities International Program provides leadership to develop, manage, and coordinate comprehensive programs and projects with Chicago’s sister cities. It aims to increase international trade, promote economic development and support exchanges in the fields of culture, education, health, social services, environment, and technology with its sister cities for the benefit of the City of Chicago, its residents and businesses. For more information about the Chicago Sister Cities International Program, please call 312.744.8074 or visit www.chicagosistercities.com.
The Chicago Sister Cities International Program is proud to commemorate its 50th Anniversary with 28 sister cities : Accra, Ghana (1989); Amman, Jordan (2004); Athens, Greece (1997); Belgrade, Serbia (2005); Birmingham, England (1993); Bogotá, Colombia (2009); Busan, Republic of Korea (2007); Casablanca, Morocco (1982); Delhi, India (2001); Durban, South Africa (1997); Galway, Ireland (1997); Gothenburg, Sweden (1987); Hamburg, Germany (1994); Kyiv, Ukraine (1991); Lahore, Pakistan (2007); Lucerne, Switzerland (1998); Mexico City, Mexico (1991); Milan, Italy (1973); Moscow, Russia (1997); Osaka, Japan (1973); Paris, France (1996); Petach Tikva, Israel (1994); Prague, Czech Republic (1990); Shanghai, China (1985); Shenyang, China (1985); Toronto, Canada (1991); Vilnius, Lithuania (1993); and Warsaw, Poland (1960).
About Millennium Park
Millennium Park, managed and programmed by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture and landscape design. The result of a unique partnership between the City of Chicago and the philanthropic community, the 24.5-acre park features the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists and designers. Among Millennium Park’s prominent features are the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States; the interactive Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa; the contemporary Lurie Garden designed by the team of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel; and Anish Kapoor’s hugely popular Cloud Gate sculpture. Since its opening in July 2004, Millennium Park has welcomed more than 20 million people, making it one of the most popular destinations in Chicago.
