LONG BEACH — Delve into the arts, cuisines, cultures, and marine environments of Asia during the Aquarium of the Pacific’s 13th annual Autumn Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8-9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The festival highlights the traditions and cultures of Japan, China, Korea, and the Philippines through a weekend of learning opportunities and family entertainment celebrating the rich diversity of Asian and Asian American cultures. It will feature traditional crafts, music, dance, demonstrations, cultural arts exhibits, ethnic cuisine, storytelling, and more. Move to the sounds of taiko drumming, watch dancers, acrobats, and martial arts demonstrations. Try your hand at origami, and purchase hand-made crafts.
On Sunday, the Heritage Award will be presented to the Los Angeles-based improv comedy group Cold Tofu.
Crafts for children will include origami (provided by Origami Kai) and fish kites.
Café Scuba’s festival menu items will include Korean beef tacos, grilled mahi-mahi, bulgogi kimchi panini and Chinese chicken salad.
Aquarium of the Pacific is located at 100 Aquarium Way in Long Beach. General admission is $28.95 (age 12+) or $18.95 with coupon; $25.95 for seniors (62+), $14.95 for children (3-11), and free for children under 3 and aquarium members. For coupons, go to http://ow.ly/DbX4d.
Parking is $8 (aquarium validated rate). Validation available at the aquarium’s information booth.
For information or tickets, call (562) 590-3100 or visit www.aquariumofpacific.org.
Entertainment Schedule
Saturday, Nov. 8
10:00 a.m.: Teapot balancing and changing faces with Wei Zhong
10:30 a.m.: Storytelling by BookPALS
10:40 a.m.: Northern Shaolin Kung Fu
11:45 a.m.: Kodama Taiko
12:20 p.m.: Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts
12:30 p.m.: Arthur Nakane, one-man band
12:55 p.m.: Kodama Taiko
1:40 p.m.: Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy
2:30 p.m.: Clear Cosmos Dancing Studio
3:10 p.m.: Minyo Odori Kotobuki no Kai
3:30 p.m. Arthur Nakane
4:00 p.m.: Acrobatics of balancing with Shasha Luo
Sunday, Nov. 9
10:00 a.m.: Teapot balancing and changing faces with Wei Zhong
10:30 a.m.: Arthur Nakane
10:40 a.m.: Northern Shaolin Kung Fu
11:45 a.m.: Acrobatics of balancing with Shasha Luo
12:20 p.m.: Improv at the Autumn Fest by Cold Tofu
12:30 p.m. Arthur Nakane
12:55 p.m.: Kyo no Kai by Nakamura Gankyo
1:40 p.m.: Heritage Award presentation to Cold Tofu
2:30 p.m.: Daion Taiko
3:10 p.m.: Awa Odori Tokushima Ren
3:30 p.m.: Arthur Nakane
4:00 p.m.: Cultural storytelling by Cold Tofu
Cultural Demonstrations/Exhibitions
• Kimekomi dolls by Yukari Kai
• New Tang Dynasty TV Shen Yun Performing Arts (traditional dress exhibit)
• Sumi-e calligraphy
• Cherry Blossom Festival of Southern California’s Camp Stories exhibit — “Six Weddings and a Dress” with Chiyomi Ogawa
• DK Ornaments & Things