Local Colors - Taste of Culture: Vietnam

This Friday, August 14th, Local Colors will be presenting Vietnam in their summer-long program called "Taste of Culture." Every 2nd Friday of the month, a country is featured at the Century Plaza in Downtown Roanoke. The program runs from 11:30am to 1:30pm outdoors (or inside the SunTrust Bank on 10 Franklin Rd in the case of rain) and is designed to emerse locals and visitors in the culture of the featured nationality. The program is educational as well as entertaining, with Roanoke area residents participating throughout the event - with music, dance, food, merchandise, language, crafts, exhibits, and dress.

Pearl Fu, Local Colors Founder and Executive Director, started the organization almost 20 years ago in an effort to inspire awareness and celebration in our City's diversity. It has grown each year to become a major force bringing many nationalities together for the annual Local Colors Parade of Nations Festival each spring at Elmwood Park. The organization also offers various services for assisting individuals and groups in education, lectures, advocacy, and more.

Taste of Culture continues what Parade of Nations/ Local Colors Festival begins in the month of May, focusing on a specific country for Roanokers to sample, learn more about, and enjoy while out and about Downtown. Many people look forward to each 2nd Friday. Some learn about it as they make their way through the streets, either visiting the City or perhaps while taking their lunch hour. Taste of Culture truly adds a beautiful touch to Roanoke... thanks to Ms Fu and all of her volunteers and supporters.

Please come to Taste of Culture featuring Vietnam this Friday. Audience participation is encouraged. This event is free to attend. You will meet your wonderful neighbors and have a great time!

You can access the Vietnamese Festival poster and details here: http://www.localcolors.org/v2007/docs/VietnamFlyer.pdf

Next month, Taste of Culture will present China. In October it will present Scandinavia.

To learn more about Local Colors, please visit their website at http://www.localcolors.org