mark your calendars for the many events Kinnaly has on the way!

 

 

International Lao New Year Festival in San Francisco

Saturday, April 11th 2009

10:00am to 5:00pm

civic center

san francisco, ca

(415) 680-4027

www.laonewyear.com

 

San Francisco was hub to many Lao refugees in the late 70's and early 80's before they were dispersed all over the US. San Francisco Bay Area/North California is also home to the largest Lao population in the US (over 35,000). And the weather in San Francisco in April, well, is conducive to a Lao New Year festival with all the water activities! That's why San Francisco was chosen as gathering place for this historic festival. There will be a commemorative opening ceremony at the Hamilton Airforce Base in Novato, California (just north of San Francisco) where most SE Asian refugees transited before relocating to other parts of the US.

Some of the festival highlights:
-Cultural Programs with taak baht, baci soukhouane, Buddha image procession and parade
-Performances of traditional music and dance from the multi Lao ethnic communities
-Lao artists from as far as Laos and England, and many Lao American recording artists
-Kato Lao championship demonstration
-100's of booths (food, crafts, businesses, workshops, etc)
-Free documentary screening of the 2009 Oscar Nominated "Nerakhoon" or "The Betrayal" by Thavisouk Phrasavath and and Ellen Kuras

As you know, it takes a lot of time, energy, and financial resources to put on an event of this magnitude FOR ALL and to represent ALL LAO across the globe. All organizers are volunteering their time for this event. I invite you to join in our efforts to bring about awareness and celebrate our heritage for the world to see by contributing $20 or more to the 60 days race. Your donation is tax deductible.
http://www.laonewyear.com/ilnyf_donors.html