For those looking to immerse themselves in a new culture, CSRA residents can look forward to attending this weekend’s approaching India Day celebration or the South Pacific Festival.
Running from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 26, the South Pacific Festival will be held at the outdoor Columbia County Amphitheater in the Towne Center, located at 7022 Evans Towne Center Blvd.
Free to the public, the first event will include Polynesian food, a live band and DJ, Polynesian and professional hula dancing, face painting and a splash pad for children. Attendees will also be encouraged to participate in raffles, a best luau attire contest, fun crafts and family games. The event will then close out with a knife performance by multi award-winning fire knife champion Toa Milford at 7:45 p.m.
“We wanted to educate people on the Polynesian culture,” said organizer Hula Mageo. “Everybody thinks that Hawaii is the only island … all these different islands make up Polynesia and every island is different. Hawaiian people eat different stuff than Samoan people. Even though we’re only five hours away from each other, the culture, the food, the language and everything is different. So, this is to help understand more about the Pacific.”
Along with nine different dance groups, performers from Hula Vibez will be performing, and audiences are invited to learn some Tahitian moves from Maria Fretwell.
“The opening is going to be exciting, because we have so many dance groups coming in from South Carolina and North Carolina,” said Mageo. “We have our own Samoan church here, too, that is going to open with 25 dancers, so it’s really upbeat.”
Vendors will include savory Hawaiian style food from Toko BBQ, based in Atlanta, and sweet treats from North Carolina’s Evie’s Malasada, operated by Sunny Purcell. Additional retailers and pop-up tents will feature island-themed merchandise from countless booths like Aunty’s Island Gifts.
“There’s going to be clothing, jewelry, all kinds of stuff,” said Mageo. “It’s going to be really fun.”
Interested parties are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to perch on the grass and enjoy the many performances throughout the day.
“I just want people to fully understand about different islands, and I just really want them to have fun,” said Mageo.
Just across the street from the South Pacific Festival, in honor of India’s Independence Day, the Indo-American Cultural Association (IACA) of the CSRA will be hosting this year’s annual India Day at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Aug. 26.
With the occasion being the brainchild of a visionary team of creators inspired by Bollywood flares, IACA’s India Day hopes to awaken audiences’ senses and expand new comers’ perceptions.
“It’s about celebrating Indian independence,” said cultural organizer and choreographer Meenu Singhal. “But mainly, it’s about the kids involved and connecting with their culture.”
Intricate choreography will be highlighted throughout the production, as well as impressive stage presence and storytelling skills from multiple involved families and friends.
“I think this definitely brings people together in the Indian community – especially people who live in Augusta,’” said Hrydani Patel. “I hope audiences understand that different parts of India create the entire country, and that we’ve tried to encompass that in our dances.”
Aiming to celebrate diversity together, the event will not only include dances and songs from several different Indian states, but will also showcase performers 6 to 60-years-old.
“It gets our kids interested in Indian culture and history,” said cultural organizer and choreographer Neha Punjabi. “Once a year, we get this opportunity to come together as a community.”
Without the annual tradition of India Day and performing with friends and family, Punjabi and Singhal said many Indian children might otherwise not be interested in learning about their culture and ethnicity. To them, performing and working as a team creates lasting, meaningful memories for participants, and instills a love of Indian dance and music for children.
“This is also important because we don’t want to forget [our culture.] We want to remember and enjoy each other,” said Singhal. “Instead of them thinking or saying, ‘oh they’re not like me,’ we teach them that these differences are good. They can learn something from it.”
The center, located at 1000 Market St. in Evans, will host the event from 4 to 10 p.m., and will be selling tickets online for $18 to $25.
To attend India Day, purchase tickets at https://www.thecenterofcc.com/event/iacas-india-day-2023/
