TCCL News & Events

Celebrate and learn about the customs and traditions of Asian-Americans with entertaining, educational events for the entire family as Tulsa City-County Library presents the sixth annual Asian-American Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Martin Regional Library, 2601 S. Garnett Road.

Explore the colorful cultures of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries in Asia. The festival kicks off with a vibrant Dragon Dance, featuring a 70-foot dragon from China.

Local martial arts instructors and their students will demonstrate kung fu, tai chi and other traditional Asian disciplines throughout the day under a big tent outside in the back of the library. Ten Tigers Kung Fu, Thomas Academy of Taiji Kung Fu and Tulsa Aikido Club are scheduled to demonstrate.

Numerous activities and presentations are scheduled indoors throughout the festival, including interactive educational booths featuring crafts for kids, face painting, name translation, henna painting and origami instruction. The festival also features authentic arts and crafts booths. Food concession is provided by India Palace, located at 69th and Lewis, and Satay Hut of Uptown Tulsa, which specializes in Indonesian cuisine. Admission to the festival is free. The festival features the following presentations:

• 11:15 a.m., Shakuhachi – featuring Japanese bamboo flute
• 11:15 a.m., Manga Exchange
• 11:15 a.m., Falun Gong Club demonstration
• 12:15 p.m., “Tripitika Koreana” – Join Jessica Stowell, Oklahoma Institute for Teaching East Asia, as she shares slides and commentary on her trip to visit Korean temples.
• 12:15 p.m., Dragon Boat Festival – Learn more about this traditional Chinese celebration.
• 12:15 p.m., Arashi Taiko – featuring traditional Japanese drums
• 1:15 p.m., Japanese Tea Ceremony
• 1:15 p.m., International Student Exchange Programs – learn more about hosting an exchange student or becoming one.
• 1:15 p.m., The Art of Belly Dancing

Children’s presentations include: 11:15 a.m., “Fun, Fun Music,” for ages 4-6, featuring children’s dances and songs in Japanese and English, taught by volunteers from Konnichiwa; 12:15 p.m., “Learn How to Draw Anime,” for ages 5-18, presented by Rick Hammer of the Richardson Asian Art Museum; and 1:15 p.m., “Kyoto Art Exchange Workshop,” for all ages.

The festival is sponsored and funded by the Tulsa Library Trust, with assistance from the Tulsa City-County Library Staff Association Recycling Proceeds Fund.

Other presenters and participating groups are: American Airlines Asian Employees Resource Group; Boy Scouts, Troop 149; Brian Franklin, Shakuhachi musician; Eisenhower International School Culture Box Project; Ho Oo Ryu; Ho Yu Kai Friendship Club; India Association of Greater Tulsa; Indonesian Club; Kaohsiung, Taiwan Sister City; Lilik and Company; Nam Hai Oriental Food Supermarket and Gift Shop at 21st and Garnett; Nancy C. Anderson, Chinese folk art specialist; Oklahoma Chinese Times; Oklahoma Department of Commerce; Rotary International; Thunderbird Youth Academy; Tulsa Asian-American Senior Citizens Association; Tulsa World; Utsunomiya, Japan Sister City; YWCA Multicultural Center; and Xai Chiropractic and Acupuncture.

For more information about the Asian-American Festival, call the Martin Regional Library at 669-6340.

Reprinted with permission of the Tulsa World. June 1, 2008.