Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Year of the Horse 2014

Asian fest (matthew trevino)

The Year of the Horse will be celebrated this Chinese New Year at the Institute of Texan Cultures for the 27th annual Asian Festival on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Starting as a family reunion to welcome the Chinese New Year, the festival has grown to include other Asian communities and cultures from the Pacific Islands to the Middle East.

Opening ceremonies and a parade will kick off the festival, which will feature three different stages with various performances. Included in the lineup are the San Antonio Lion Dance Association, the Arathi School of Indian Dance and the Korean American Cultural Center of San Antonio Dance Team, along with UTSA’s very own Confucius Institute.

The festival will also showcase different styles of martial arts in the demo area, presentations on Chinese history and customs, as well as lessons on Asian cuisine from China, Japan, India, Pakistan and Indonesia.

Festival goers are invited to try different styles of Asian-American food from 15 different vendors across the San Antonio area, provided by Japanese, Korean, Thai, Laotian, Philippine and other Asian tastes. Food and drinks will be purchased using $1 coupons available on site the day of the festival. Along with the performances, guests have the opportunity to wander the marketplace where merchants will be selling native clothing, jewelry and an array of souvenirs.

This is also the first year that the Asian Festival is partnering with the San Antonio Food Bank in their efforts to fight hunger in San Antonio. Festival attendees are asked to participate in the day-long food drive by donating non-perishable items such as peanut butter or beans for donation.

From henna tattoos to multicultural dance presentations, the Institute of Texan Cultures hopes to offer an immersion into Asian culture and a learning experience for the San Antonio community.

The 2014 Asian Festival will be held at the Institute of Texan Cultures from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Feb. 1. Tickets for adults 13 and older are $10 at the gate with advance tickets available at $8. Tickets for children 6- 12 are $5. Children five and under receive free admission. For more information on the festival, visit texancultures.com.

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