BCC presents multi-cultural "Colors of Our Community" Festival May 6

BELLEVUE, WASH.– The largest public celebration of diversity on the Greater Eastside, called "Colors of Our Community," will be held at Bellevue Community College on Saturday, May 6, cosponsored by the college and the City of Bellevue Parks and Community Services Cultural Diversity Program.

The free festival will run from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on the college’s main campus (3000 Landerholm Circle S.E. – of 148th Ave. S.E.) and is expected to draw nearly 5,000 visitors.

Organized largely by BCC students, “Colors of our Community” is planned as a family event with numerous fun activities and programs. The goal is to create a cultural hub at BCC that provides an opportunity for all ages to learn about different cultural values and celebrate the depth of diversity on the Eastside.

Two lively and colorful parades will highlight the festival at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The lineup includes Chinese Lion Dance by Mak Fai Kung Fu Club, the Bellevue-based Show Brazil! Dancers, martial arts performers, a Filipino Drill Team, and a number of BCC cultural student clubs.

Foods from around the world will be showcased from more than 20 food vendors.

The festival also will feature a Kids Fair for and about children. This event will showcase displays and activities for kids, as well as exhibits on health, literacy, and child safety for parents. Free ID cards for children will be provided by law enforcement agencies. Children will be able to tour fire engines and meet members of the Bellevue Fire Department, and learn salsa from a group of Mexican dancers. Additionally, child singers and songwriters, a Native American story teller, and an African musical group will be featured.

Other festival activities include a wide array of exciting world music and dance performances on the festival stages and a film festival featuring multi-cultural films produced by local directors.

The festival also includes an Interfaith Fair (www.interfaithfair.com) offering opportunities for discussion about various faiths from around the world. As part of that event, "ONE... The Movie" (www.onethemovie.org) will be shown at 10:00 a.m. in room N201 on the BCC main campus. Temple B'nai Torah (www.templebnaitorah.org) will present the movie again at 7 p.m. in the same location for those who cannot attend the morning showing.

Attendees also can shop for gifts, arts and crafts by local vendors.

"Colors of Our Community" will be the second annual multi-cultural fair sponsored jointly by Bellevue Community College and the City of Bellevue Parks & Community Services Cultural Diversity Program.

Attendees also can shop for gifts, arts and crafts by local vendors.

More than 4,000 people attended last year’s event.

For more information go to http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/stupro/events/multiculturalfest/schedule.asp. For special needs accommodations, please contact BCC Student Programs at (425) 564-6150 or multiculturalfest@bcc.ctc.edu.

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