Festival celebrates Armenia

Festival celebrates Armenia

La Cañada Valley Sun, CA
May 13 2004

Armenian Relief Society SHOWCASING CULTURE – A trio plays traditional
Armenian music during the Armenian Relief Society’s 93rd anniversary
festivities in 2003.

The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Western Regional Executive will
launch its third annual festival in celebration of the organization’s
94th anniversary at the Glendale Civic Auditorium on May 15 and 16.

The festival will bring Armenian music, art, dance, history and
culinary heritage under one roof.

Be transported to an era when women sewed their own clothing and
household items. See what they prepared before their weddings. Enjoy
traditional wedding festivities and an Armenian costume show. Have
your picture taken in traditional Armenian costume. Dance to Armenian
music with a group of beginners. Learn how to make string cheese or
other culinary delicacies. Listen to lively stories with a group
of children. Enjoy roaming around exhibits of local and Armenian
products such as books, arts and crafts, drinks and food. Listen and
dance to live music. Meet old friends and make new ones. Let your
children spare no energy in the kid’s zone.

ARS was founded in New York in 1910. The establishment of the first
two chapters in the Western Region (west of the Mississippi) followed
in Fresno (1915) and Hollywood (1918).

The Western Region has held a weekend festival to celebrate ARS’s
anniversary during the last two years at the Glendale Civic Auditorium.

In 2003, the cultural festival attracted 10,000 visitors. Encouraged
by the increasing interest by Armenians and non-Armenians alike, this
year’s program and exhibits will be expanded in order to accommodate
even more visitors and greater variety of activities.

“We intend to create a little Armenia in Glendale with expanded
programming for children and interesting exhibits for adults,” said
Nova Hindoyan, president of the ARS Western Regional Executive.

The proceeds of the weekend event will be used to fund ARS activities
including counseling the youth, awarding scholarships, supporting
orphans, helping the aged, and providing other social and educational
services to local communities. The ARS Child Youth and Family Guidance
Center is an example of the multidisciplinary approach to help find
solutions to complex family situations.

The ARS is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian
organization, which serves the humanitarian needs of the Armenian
people and seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian
nation. The Western Regional was founded 20 years ago and has 27
chapters, with 16 of the chapters located in Southern California.

The Glendale Civic Auditorium is located at 1401 N. Verdugo Road in
Glendale. Admission is $5 for the public (children admitted free).

Those interested in participating or sponsoring the program, may
contact the ARS regional executive at 500-1343.