Beginning Friday, Oct. 14, through Sunday, Oct. 16 at the Governor Joseph Flores Memorial Park at Ypao Beach, the whole island is invited to celebrate and take part in what the numerous Micronesian island cultures have to offer.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating the Dance and Song of Micronesia,” promises a weekend of festive music and dance as well as the storytelling, art and cuisine for which our region is famous, states GVB in a press release.
Since 1987, the fair was created as an instrument of cultural perpetuation and regional unity toward the development of tourism, agriculture and industry. Its success continues to grow as GVB intends to increase the number of attendees each year. Last year, the 2010 Guam Micronesia Island Fair saw approximately 20,000 visitors and locals over the fair weekend.
According to GVB, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Kiribati and Guam will be represented at the fair by official delegations endowed with the responsibility and privilege of sharing their cultures.
“This year the fair will be bigger and better,” said GVB Deputy General Manager Nathan Denight. “We have over 90 vendors and booths that feature crafts, food, agriculture and aquaculture displays and many more activities for every member of the family.”
On Friday, Denight added, the fair will welcome more than 2000 students from both public and private schools to learn about the different cultures in the region.
“We are also excited to be welcoming two delegations from Japan. The first delegation is from our sister city, Kashiwa. They are here in celebration of 20 years of friendship with Guam,” Denight said.
Earlier this year, Guam participated in Kashiwa’s cultural fair. The Kashiwa delegation will be here to reciprocate the gesture and share their cultural dances and songs with the island.
“The second delegation is comprised of Japanese students who participated in the Chamorro Dance Academy at (the Japan Association of Travel Agents Showcase) a couple of weeks ago,” Denight continues. “They will join Master Frank Rabon in showcasing what they learned and immerse themselves in our island.”
The 2011 Guam Ko’ko’ Road Race Ekiden Relay & Half-Marathon, another signature GVB event, will be held on the same weekend as the Guam Micronesia Island Fair. Race day is Sunday, Oct. 16 at 5 a.m.
