Sister cities come together
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Taiko drummers, children dancing to traditional Mexican folk songs, and a French plein air painter will all be a part of the giant melting pot Sunday at the Newport Beach Sister City International Festival.
The free event will celebrate Newport’s relationship with the cities of Antibes, France, Okazaki, Japan, and Ensenada, Mexico.
“It’s going to be like an old-fashioned family day in the park,” said event organizer Connie Skibba, who has been a part of the Newport Beach Sister City Assn. since 1996. The group sponsors student exchange programs that allow local residents to experience life in other countries. Groups of foreign students also visit Newport each year.
“I think we are such a global society now that promoting our international community and culture with other people is important,” Skibba said.
Newport just celebrated 25 years of sister-city status with Okazaki.
The city of about 300,000, about 200 miles southwest of Tokyo, is famous for manufacturing fireworks.
Newport’s other sister cities include Antibes, a port city in southeastern France, and Ensenada, with which Newport co-hosts the annual Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race.
Sunday’s event will feature patriotic songs from the Harbor View Elementary School Chorus and drummers from the Taiko Center of Los Angeles. Local singer and songwriter Samantha Smith will perform the American, French and Japanese national anthems at the event.
Newport Beach Councilman Don Webb will act as emcee.
“This is an event the whole family can enjoy together,” said Cherri Penne-Myers, president of the Sister City Assn. “There will be lots of international games for children with an opportunity for them to learn about the different cultures of our sister cities and meet many of our members.”
If You Go:
What: The Newport Beach Sister City International Festival
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Mariners Park, 1300 Irvine Ave.
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