Pasadena’s Armenian Community Plans Inaugural Festival
Pasadenanow.com
Event aims to bring generations together and share heritage with broader San Gabriel Valley
Members of Pasadena’s Armenian American community announced plans to host a first-ever local Armenian Festival, a free celebration of culture and heritage, at Victory Park on Saturday, Nov. 16. The event aims to unite generations of Armenian Americans while offering the broader San Gabriel Valley community a vibrant glimpse into Armenian culture.
Organizers hope the festival will showcase Armenian traditions, support local institutions, and foster community relationships. The day-long celebration will feature Armenian food, music, dance, art, and cultural exhibitions.
“We wanted to do something that wasn’t geared only for the young or for the old, but that was going to be an event that was going to bring every Armenian generation in Pasadena together, just so they can be with one another and meet one another,” said Vache Sevajian, a committee member for the festival.
The inaugural event represents a collaborative effort among seven local Armenian churches, political organizations, relief-based groups, and cultural institutions. It seeks to raise funds for local Armenian schools and programs while building relationships between different Armenian
Alex Giragosian, another committee member, outlined three main goals for the festival.
“The first goal is to showcase Armenian culture to the broader San Gabriel Valley community,” he said. “The second – it’s basically a fundraiser to support our local Armenian schools and programs. And the third is to build working relationships between the different Armenian
Giragosian also emphasized the festival’s inclusive nature.
“This is a free event, actually. This is not intended to be specifically for Armenians,” he said. “We want, in the same way the Greek festival is intended to showcase Greek culture to the San Gabriel Valley community, this Armenian festival is also intended to showcase Armenian culture to the American and broader San Gabriel Valley Pasadena community.”
The festival is planned to feature four main components: onstage performances, craft and prepackaged food vendors, a children’s play area, and authentic Armenian cuisine prepared on-site. Organizers plan to prioritize local talent for performances, including da
A dedicated logistics committee is managing all aspects of the event, including security, sanitation, permits, and transportation. The organizers are working closely with the city of Pasadena to ensure a smooth and safe experience for attendees.
According to the organizers, parking for the event will be available on the street, in the park’s parking lot, and at the Armenian General Benevolent Union parking lot. Victory Park is located at 2575 Paloma Street in Pasadena.
While the focus is currently on making the inaugural event successful, organizers have not yet decided whether it will become an annual occurrence. They plan to evaluate the festival’s performance before making decisions about future events.
Aside from commercial exhibitors and vendors, booths are available for charities and nonprofits, as well as for artists, craft makers, and artisans to showcase and sell their work.