36th Annual Powell Street Festival at Oppenheimer Park – August 4 and 5, 2012

The 36th annual Powell Street Festival will be held on August 4th and 5th, 2012 at Oppenheimer Park and surrounding venues!

This year’s theme is BIG BANG-ZAI! —a shout-out hurrah for the Festival’s past and present. Built out of resilience and a strong commitment to the Japanese Canadian community, the Festival has grown tremendously since its debut in 1977. Yet the early years were crucial in solidifying the Festival’s identity. This year’s remount of Tamio Wakayama’s exhibition Kikyo: Coming Home to Powell Street details these first 15 critical years of the Festival in a stunning series of black and white photographs.

Highlights:

Opening Ceremonies
Saturday, 11:30am-12:00pm, Main Stage
We begin the festivities with a First Nations blessing by Barbara Charlie of the Squamish Nation and greetings by Consul General of Japan Hideki Ito, Deputy Mayor George Affl eck, and Shane Simpson, MLA for Vancouver-Hastings.

Children’s Tent
(12noon-5:00pm only!)
Take part in a variety of free, supervised children’s activities in the tent, Saturday & Sunday, 12pm-5pm. Please sign up for Suika Wari, Tug of War, and Kiai Contest ahead of time in the tent; space is limited. (Note: this is not a child-care program, so please do not leave your children unattended)

PALM Origami
Saturday, 12noon-3:00pm, Children’s Tent
For the beginner and the seasoned paper folder, brought to you by Paperfolders Around the Lower Mainland.

Watermelon Game (Suika Wari)
Saturday, 2:00-2:30pm
Put on a blindfold, hit the watermelon, and win a prize!

Tug-of-War
Saturday/Sunday, 4:00-4:30pm
Work together as a team and win prizes! Please sign up in advance at the
Information Booth.

Kiai Contest
Sunday, 2:00-2:30pm
This is the time to let the kids be as noisy as they want! Volunteer judges award prizes for the loudest, most creative, scariest screams and yells. Please sign up in advance at the tent.

Ongoing all weekend (12noon-5:00pm): Face-painting, mask-making and hat-making!

Special Event Concert
Triple Threat
Saturday August 4th, 8pm

World Arts Centre, Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 West Hastings St., Vancouver) $15/$10 at www.brownpapertickets.com or at door. Immerse yourself in this an eclectic night of fine talent featuring folksinger Ana Miura, the laid-back, smoky voice of jazz pianist/vocalist Emi Meyer and the eclectic pairing of local theatre favourite Maiko Bae Yamamoto with musical talent Veda Hille performing Veda Hille’s Karate Theatre of Earth. Presented in partnership with SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, with
support by Craig Natsuhara of Spectrum HR Law.

Ceremonial
Omikoshi
Saturday, 12:00-2:00pm, Jackson Avenue (set up—come visit and see the shrine up close)
Saturday, 2:15-2:45pm, Festival Grounds
The omikoshi, or portable shrine, is an essential element of festivals all over Japan. The carriers, who are believed to be possessed by a divine spirit, rock the omikoshi vigorously; the more frenzied their efforts, the more good fortune is said to pass on to everyone. 1pm sign-up starts.

Urasenke Foundation of Vancouver, Sa-do (Tea Service)
Sunday, 1:00-2:00 pm, 2:00-3:00 pm, 3-4pm, 4-5pm
Vancouver Japanese Language School Tatami Room (5th Floor)
Members of the Urasenke Foundation of Vancouver invite you to participate in an authentic tea service in the tranquil tatami room on the VJLS rooftop. Please sign up in advance at the Information Booth.

Cherry Blossom Trees Recognition
Sunday, 2:30pm, Main Stage
Members of the Legacy Sakura Committee and the Vancouver Parks Board & Staff recognize the Legacy Sakura trees and the glass fritting designed by John Endo Greenaway and installed in the Oppenheimer Park Field House in 2011. The Legacy Sakura trees were originally planted in 1977 to commemorate the Japanese Canadian centennial and serve as living reminders of the Japanese Canadian heritage in the area. View glass fritting on the outside East side of the Field House.

For more information, please visit: http://www.powellstreetfestival.com