"Great ExplorAsians" 2008 Oregon Asian Celebration

Welcome to the 23rd Annual Oregon Asian Celebration!

THANK YOU for making the 2008 Oregon Asian Celebration such a success!

The 2009 event is planned for
February 14 & 15
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p. m. and
Sunday 10:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m.
Lane Events Center at the Lane County Fairgrounds, Eugene, Oregon

* The 2009 Oregon Asian Celebration events will be posted later this year. But for now, feel free to see the exciting activities held this past February, 2008.

This year's 2008 event theme is "Great ExplorAsians" and you will be presented with opportunities to explore many aspects of Asian cultural heritage in the expansive Lane Events Center. This year we have partnered with exciting community events such as "An Evening of Aloha Music" on Friday night, February 15. See below for more partner events offered this year in connection with this year's Oregon Asian Celebration. For a detailed schedule of Oregon Asian Celebration activities, please click on any of the links to the left.

The Oregon Asian Celebration is produced by an all-volunteer committee of dedicated and fun-loving people whose mission it is to create opportunities that foster friendship and harmonious relations among all people, and to enhance appreciation and understanding of Asian cultural heritage.

To honor this year's theme "Great ExplorAsians" don't miss an exhibit of commonly known items invented by Asians that are significant to our culture and society.

Also, watch for the return of popular events such as the Sumo Wrestling mini-robot competition!

PARTNER EVENTS
In keeping with our theme "Great ExplorAsians" we are pleased to partner with several organizations this year that allows you to further explore Asian Culture. Click on the links below and discover these exciting events coming soon.

MELE OHANA presents "An Evening of Aloha"
Friday, February 15 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7pm)
Lane Events Center, Aloha Stage (Performance Hall)
Tickets: $10 admission

Mele Ohana of Oregon, a Hawaiian music players group based in Eugene, is presenting the first of a series of Hawaiian cultural events with a concert featuring local and regional talent for an evening of traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music and hula on Friday, February 15th at the Lane Events Center (Aloha Celebration Stage) starting at 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm. Click here for the evening performance schedule.

HAWAIIAN CULTURAL ARTS WORKSHOPS(Free)
Lane Events Center, Mtg Rm 1 (Performance Hall Lobby entrance)
Saturday and Sunday, February 16 & 17

In addition to the concert, Mele Ohana of Oregon is offering a variety of Hawaiian Cultural Arts workshops being held throughout the festival weekend (February 16th and 17th) from 10:30am to 5pm, in the Ohana Room of the Lane Events Center (see map in the official Program Guide). These workshops will offer a unique opportunity to the community to experience Hawaiian cultural arts first-hand that will include learning the hula, ukulele (contemporary and Hawaiian-style), lei-making, and much more. Click here for a complete schedule of free workshops.

EXHIBIT: BUDDHIST VISIONS
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
University of Oregon
Features the current exhibition "Buddhist Visions" Through April 13, 2008

Explore more than a thousand years of Buddhist culture and imagery. Also enjoy a stunning collection in the museum's galleries devoted to art from China, Japan, Korea, America, Russia, and elsewhere. For more information and schedule of events, visit www.jsma.uoregon.edu. Click here for more information, as well.

PACIFIC MARTIAL ARTS CONFERENCE
Willard School Gym
Saturday, Jan. 26 & March 1, 12-6pm
www.pacificmartialartsconference.com
Are you curious about other martial arts styles? Maybe you study taekwondo, but you’ve been thinking of trying capoeira or aikido. Come learn something new at the 2nd Annual Pacific Martial Arts Conference (PacMAC). Visit www.pacificmartialartsconference.com for details.

ANIMAL FARM Hip Hop PERFORMANCE
Eugene Weekly fan poll named Animal Farm the Best Local Hip Hop Ensemble, which speaks to their growing popularity. Their music is an exploration and evolution of hip hop culture. Their name derives from George Orwell's classic book, Animal Farm. The five member ensemble delight their audiences with comic banter and positive messages about the local community. For a sneak preview of their music, visit www.myspace.com/animalfarmrecords.

Science Factory Presents 'THREE CHEERS FOR ENGINEERS & BLOCK KIDS COMPETITION" Saturday, February 23, 2008
Block Kids Competition: 12:30-3:00 pm
Asia has always been a source of innovation, and is recognized for placing educational emphasis on math and science. The Science Factory, too, stresses the value of lifelong learning in these fields, and invites all kids, ages 6-12, to explore their creativity and building skills in the annual “Block Kids” Competition sponsored by the National Association of Women in Construction. All entrants will receive a goody bag and a shot at the regional and national competition. Registration: 12:30 to 1 pm; pre-registration recommended. Visit www.sciencefactory.org/programs or click here for details about the competition.

* Asian Celebration Admission is only $4.00. Kids ages 12 and under are free!

* Event Site Map of Activities

2008 Oregon Asian Celebration: "Great ExplorAsians"

Eugene, OR--"Great ExplorAsians" is the theme for this year's Oregon Asian Celebration. This annual cultural event enters its 23rd year in Eugene and will feature nonstop festivities February 16 and 17 at the Lane Events Center at the Fairgrounds. Doors open both days at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 8:00 pm on Saturday and 6:00 pm on Sunday.

Visitors can experience this year's theme "Great ExplorAsians" by exploring different areas set up for learning about Asian cultural heritage and entertainment, or learn from non-stop demonstrations of crafts, martial arts and Asian cooking.

This year's event will also highlight an exhibit of commonly known items that were invented in Asia or by Asian Americans that continue to be used today to make our lives better, says event chairman David Tam. "Visitors, especially young people, may be surprised to learn where common everyday items were invented." Kids can learn more about these inventions by taking part in the Passport Adventure sponsored by ESAAY, (Eugene Springfield Asian American Youth) at the door to search for clues and receive a passport stamp. Once the passport is fully stamped, it can be redeemed for a prize at the ESAAY booth in the marketplace.

Each area of the festival will have something to offer visitors that encourage them to explore Asian culture, from learning about cultural dances to learning how to tasting tantalizing Asian dishes.

Arrive at the main stage for the opening performance at 10:00 a.m. and take part in scaring away the evil spirits with the Chinese Lion Dancers. This traditional performance signals the beginning of the event and features a gyrating Chinese Lion who winds his way through the festival site to usher in good luck for the festival.

This year's Celebration welcomes the return of the Pacific Northwest's premier taiko ensemble, Portland Taiko at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. The award-winning Portland Taiko is widely recognized as a leading group in the North American taiko community and performs to over 70,000 people a year and has traveled to Japan for performances, workshops and intensive study with taiko masters. Taiko performances by the Monmouth Taiko and Eugene Taiko are also planned for Sunday. (Media/press photos of Portland Taiko are available at http://www.portlandtaiko.org/press/photos.html). Click here for more information about this year's exciting event.

For a complete schedule about this year's event, click on the links in the navigation bar on this page, and don't forget to check regularly for updates on events and activities.