the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Sunday, April 24, 2005 7:00 pm
A world market will spring up in downtown Lincoln Friday and Saturday as part of a two-day ethnic festival, Celebrate Lincoln. The free event, attended by more than 14,000 people last year, is produced by the Updowntowners and presented by Lincoln Benefit Life.
It will be staged at the 12th and N Street corridor. The festival's goal is to build community harmony through interaction, education and celebration.
There will be an array of local artisans' handiwork, performing arts and dance, live global music and food created in ethnic traditions from around the world.
There is no admission charge, but donations are welcome. The gates open on Friday in time for lunch. There will be 14 food vendors serving everything from Greek cuisine to American barbeque.
Among the food vendors are The Parthenon (Greek), The Corn Crib (American), Pastabilities (Italian), Inna's Pirogi (Eastern European), Sultana's Kahve (Middle Eastern), Made 2 Grill (German and American), Ethio-Eritrian Food (Ethiopian), Mandy's Egg Rolls (Cambodian), Christ Lutheran Church (Sudanese), African Community Center (Pan African), The Margarita Man (Mexican), Peace Cafe (Iraqi), Partners of America (Brazilian) and Famous Dave's (American).
A variety of activities and entertainment will also be offered at the festival, including:
n Learn how to make origami, dreamcatchers and buttons with Elliott Elementary School.
n Write your name in Japanese, Chinese or Hindi calligraphy and get your face painted with henna paints by the Asian Community and Culture Center.
n Ride on a pony with J & J Pony Rides.
n Play the Cambodian game "Catch the Baby Falcon" and Ghana's "Obwisana Rock Passing Game" during your visit to Elliott Street II.
n Color flags and play games from Russia and the Czech Republic with the members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Russian and Czech Clubs.
n Try green tea and Asian candies while watching dancers on TV with the Asian Community and Culture Center.
n Enjoy playing an interactive Andean music game and play Andean instruments with Kusi Taki.
n Listen to storytelling and learn the "Old Dan Tucker" square dance and the "Mexican Hat Dance" at Elliott Street II.
Students attending a Lincoln elementary school will receive a passport to Celebrate Lincoln at school. Others can pick them up at the festival gates. Children are encouraged to bring their passport to each booth (except food vendors), learn about the merchandise and art and get their passport stamped.
Once completed, children may take their passports to the information booth for a small prize and an opportunity to win the grand prize.
For more information about Celebrate Lincoln, visit www.celebratelincoln.org or call (402) 434-6902.
The groups performing on the main stage, the time and types of performances are:
Friday
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ashanti African Roots & Culture Band, world beat drumming and dancing
1:15-1:45 p.m. Irish Dance, dance lessons
2-3 p.m. Ashanti Drum Circle, African drumming lessons
3:15-3:45 p.m. Taiko Drums (Kokyo), choreographed drumming
4-4:30 p.m. Lotus Dancers, traditional dance
4:45-5:15 p.m. Lincoln High Hip Hop
5:30-6 p.m. Lincoln High School Drummers and Dancers
6:15-7:15 p.m. Elliott School fifth-graders, singing and dancing
7:30-8:30 p.m. A to Z Productions, hip hop
8:30-9 p.m. Basharaat Belly Dance, dancing and drumming
9-10:30 p.m. Elisha Israel and AZ One, reggae music
Saturday
9-9:30 a.m. The Athenian Dancers, belly dancing
9:45-10:45 a.m. African Immigrant Choir, singing native tongues
11 a.m. to noon Elliott School fifth-graders, dancing and singing
12:15-12:45 p.m. Equatoria Women Dance Group, singing and dancing
1-2 p.m. Skjaldborg Sponsored by Norden Club, Viking weapons demonstration
2:15-2:45 p.m. Lincoln Irish Dancers, group and solo dancing
3-3:30 p.m. Lion Dancers/Taijiquan, martial arts
3:45-4:15 p.m. Lotus Dancers, traditional dance
4:30-5 p.m. Taiko Drums (Kokyo), choreographed drumming
5:15-5:45 p.m. Lincoln International Folk Dancers
6-6:45 p.m. Nuba Mountain Wrestlers, dance, music, singing
7-8:30 p.m. Electric Soul Method Jazz, funk, hip-hop, rock, fusion music
8:30-9 p.m. Whorlwinds, ethnic dances
9-10:30 p.m. Son Venezuela Meringue, salsa, cumbia, calypso, tamborera music