28th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival Kicks Off Tonight

Flame Tree Photos in header and this post courtesy of my friend Mike Tripp.
Flame Tree Arts Festival kicks off today
Thursday, 23 April 2009 00:00 By Raquel Bagnol - Variety News Staff
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THE 28th Flame Tree Arts Festival officially begins at 6 tonight at the Civic Center in Susupe.

Arts Council coordinator Lucille Ayuyo said over a hundred visitors from Guam, Palau and Rota are already on island for the four-day festivities.

“The community will be treated to four days of cultural entertainment,” Ayuyo said.

She said the canoe welcome ceremony will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. today at the Civic Center.

The two traditional canoes will come from Satawal, Yap.

Ayuyo is urging the community to participate in the festival and grab the chance to sample local food and drinks as well as artwork and crafts.

Logistics committee chairman Parker Yobei earlier said that the festival “is a chance for the community to showcase different cultures in one place.”

“Artists and exhibitors will be demonstrating and teaching their respective culture, arts and traditions to the community, and this is an experience everybody should not miss,” he said.

The Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture has reserved 23 slots for arts and education booths.

This year’s festival theme is “Uniting Rainbows of Culture and Tradition.”

For this year, there will be no traditional booth competition but prizes of $500, $300 and $200 are at stake for the float parade on Saturday morning.