East Meets West National at Silver City's Asian Festival

Tuesday, 21 August 2007

Remember Asian Moon Festival?  For the past two years, Milwaukee has lacked an Asian cultural festival.  This September, Silver City Main Street is bringing the East to West National Avenue.  The Main Street Milwaukee District, located on National from 31st Street to Miller Park Way, is planning a new festival to celebrate the Asian heritage.  Silver City’s Asian Festival: East Meets West National will take place on September 22, 2007.  The festival will begin at 10:00 am and end at 8:00 pm. “Silver City’s melting pot district is the perfect location for an Asian festival,” said Ald. Robert Donovan of the 8th aldermanic district.  Home to 17 Asian-owned businesses, including five restaurants, the area offers a variety of authentic Asian food and retail.  Silver City’s Asian Festival will feature vendors and entertainers of Hmong, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Phillipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and Laotian descent.    A parade with participants representing a variety of nationalities will kick off the event.  Silver City has invited several Asian and American Vietnam War veterans groups to march.  The parade will lead to a cultural stage featuring Laotian dancers, Hmong American Friendship Association (HAFA) dancers, demonstrations by Rising Dragon Martial Arts, Chinese Lion Dancers, and Japanese Kendo (fencing).  A fashion show with traditional apparel, and singers will also bring an Asian flair to the stage.  Food tasting and cooking demonstrations by Silver City restaurants lend a taste of Asia to the festival. The event planning committee for Silver City’s Asian Festival is chaired by Pa Britney Xiong, president of Western Bilingual Employment Services.  The committee is composed of a dedicated group of volunteers, many of which are Hmong, as well as a former member of the Asian Moon Festival planning board.  The Silver City Main Street works to build a positive image that encourages customer growth and community development, in conjunction with CDBG Milwaukee, Main Street Milwaukee, and Layton Boulevard West Neighbors.

 

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