5th Annual Language Capital of the World® Cultural Festival Announces Performers and More!

 

 

September 2019, Monterey. Save the date for the family-friendly, free 5th Annual Language Capital of the World® Cultural Festival at the Custom House Plaza in downtown Monterey, adjacent to Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf.

When: Sunday, October 6, 2019 10:00 a.m. ­– 5:00 p.m. 

Where: Custom House Plaza, Monterey State Historic Park, 20 Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940

Cost: Free

Parking: Convenient (paid) parking is available in the City of Monterey Waterfront, East Garage and West Garage parking lots.

Contact: Wendy Brickman (831) 594-1500 or email [email protected]

More information:

About the 5th Annual Language Capital of the World® Cultural Festival

The free 5th Annual Language Capital of the World® Cultural Festival will be held on Sunday, October 6, 2019. There will be fabulous performances by an array of dancers and singers representing cultures from across the globe, ethnic food, free mini-language lessons and cultural experiences, a variety of cultural booths, and vendors of gift items from around the world.

Learn some words in a language at the mini-language lessons, and then have fun trying them out at a cultural, crafts or food both!

Monterey County’s economy depends on spending by faculty and students from local language and culture institutions like the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) and DLIFLC, and employees connected with area language-services businesses, so please come out and support this very special event. 

To sponsor the event, or for further details, visit www.lcowfest.com or call Wendy Brickman at (831) 633-4444.

Launching the festivities at 10:00 a.m. are DLI Color Guard and National Anthem performances, followed by brief opening remarks from DLIFLC Commandant Colonel Gary M. Hausman and from City of Monterey Mayor Clyde Roberson.

Attendees will then be treated to a full day of fabulous international dances, music and colorful costumes. This year encompasses nearly three dozen international performances reflecting many different languages and cultures: America (dance theatre), China (ethnic dances, fan dance, kung fu, song), India (Bollywood-style dance), Iran (folk dance), Korea (choir, fan dance, taekwondo), Japan (song), Mexico (folk dance), Middle East (Egyptian belly dance, Lebanese music), Philippines (folk dance), Polynesia (Hawaiʻian folk dance)… Russia (song, folk dance), Taiwan (puppetry), Turkey (folk dance), Vietnam (regional cultural dances). Performances will include:

  • Kung Fu (Chinese)
  • Kalinka, A Russian Folk Dance and Singing Group (Russian)
  • Saidi Belly Dance — A Favorite Wedding Dance (Arabic – Egyptian)
  • Mexican Dance (Spanish)
  • Chinese Dragon (Chinese)  
  • Korean Fan Dance (Korean)
  • Om Shanti Om Dance (Hindi)
  • Dance Center Musical Theatre (American Culture – English)
  • Chinese Dai Ethnic Dance (Chinese)
  • Russian Song (Russian)
  • Traditional Taiwanese Puppet Show (Taiwanese)
  • Korean Choir (Korean)
  • Hula Mana OʻMahina (Polynesian)
  • Xinjiang Traditional Dance (Chinese)
  • Iranian Folk Dances (Persian / Farsi)
  • Turkish Folk Dance (Turkish)
  • Korean Taekwondo Demonstration (Korean)
  • Mexican Dance (Spanish)
  • Lebanese Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Music (Lebanese)
  • Taiji Fans (Chinese)
  • Filipino Folk Dance (Filipino)
  • Chinese Choir (Chinese)
  • Cultural Folk Dances and Entertainment (Vietnamese)
  • Chinese Solo Dance (Chinese)
  • Japanese Song (Japanese)

 

(All subject to last-minute changes.)

The performances are coordinated by Master of Ceremonies Sameera E. Sharif, DLIFLC.

Mini-Language Lessons

Understanding other languages is important in today’s global marketplace. Festival attendees will enjoy taking a mini-language lesson hosted by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, including:

  • Korean
  • Japanese
  • Spanish
  • Russian
  • Arabic
  • Greek and more.

Cultural and Informational Exhibits

There will be an array of fascinating international cultural and informational exhibits.

All ages will enjoy viewing the cultural displays and talking with representatives from The Pacific Grove Chinese School, Om Shanti Om Bollywood Dancing, Nine Star University of Health Services, Creative Education Foundation – Great Auntie Creative Taiwan School, Persian Cultural Group, Mexican Cultural Group, Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Naval Postgraduate School, CSUMB School of World Languages and Cultures, Monterey Peninsula College, EF Education First: Educational Programs and Travel Abroad, and the International Language and Culture Foundation (ILCF).

International Food

Many kinds of delicious international ethnic food will be available for sale, including Maha’s Lebanese Cuisine (Mediterranean – Lebanese), Big Sur Tacos (Mexican), Indian Gourmet (Indian), Lumpia Lady (Filipino), Maido Catering Service (Sushi – Japanese), Kitja's Kitchen (Thai) and Kona Ice (Shaved Ice – Polynesian/ Hawaiʻian).

International Crafts

The holidays are fast-approaching, so come visit our international handicraft booths selling beautiful items from shops like Seif Egyptian Gifts, Tibet Creations, A Touch of Glass, CulturArts from Oaxaca, Mexico and more. This is also a good way to practice those new foreign-language words that you will have learned.

Festival Significance

Many Monterey County organizations play an important role in providing global services in translation (written word) and interpretation (spoken word), such as LanguageLine Solutions and MediaLocate, among others. Organizations like the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey, Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Monterey Peninsula College, CSUMB and other local entities provide instruction in many languages. The Naval Postgraduate School has hosted students from more than 100 nations and provides professional, service-orientated educational programs for the United States Armed Forces and for international militaries. Monterey County is also a highly popular destination for visitors from around the world, and Monterey’s linguistic and cultural diversity is reflected in its Native American, Chinese, Filipino, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese roots.

Thank You To Our Current Sponsors

A very special thank you to our valued sponsors and supporters which include Monterey State Historic Park, Old Monterey Foundation, City of Monterey, Monterey County Business Council, Arts Council for Monterey County, Old Monterey Business Association, Fisherman’s Wharf Association, Middlebury Institute for International Studies, LanguageLine Solutions, MediaLocate, Richard Schneider Language Services, CSUMB, Monterey Peninsula College, Yellow Brick Road Benefit Shop, Monterey Peninsula Volunteer Services, Kiwanis Club of Monterey, Selfieville, EF Education First, 1st Capital Bank, Alvarado Street Brewery, Monterey Sailing and Boat Charter Services, Hellenic Cultural Institute, International Language and Culture Foundation, Turkish American Association of California, Campbell Language Consultants, The Wecker Group, Copy King and SunStar Media.

Media sponsors include KSBW-TV, Central Coast ABC, Central Coast ABC, Estrella TV Central Coast, Monterey Herald and Foolish Times.

Please support the many costs of the Language Capital of the World Cultural Festival via its non-profit partner, Old Monterey Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Federal Tax ID # 45-1343649. Donation checks can be made out to Old Monterey Foundation (on the “notes” line, please specify that the donation is for the Language Capital of the World Cultural Festival) and mailed to Wendy Brickman, 395 Del Monte Center, #250, Monterey, CA 93940.

About Old Monterey Foundation

Old Monterey Foundation, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization partner of the Language Capital of the World Cultural Festival for the past 5 years, was formed on February 14, 2011, with the specific mission and purpose of promoting, supporting and enhancing the artistic, cultural and historical environment of historic Downtown Monterey, California. It hosts many historical lectures and events. It has also made numerous improvements at the Lower Presidio Historic Park, including historic interpretive signs, pathways, benches and tables. For further details, please visit www.oldmontereyfoundation.org. 

For further details on Language Capital of the World Cultural Festival or any of the businesses, organizations and associations mentioned herein, please call Wendy Brickman at 831-594-1500 or email [email protected].