CULTURE
Chinese celebration
The 58th Narcissus Festival kicks off this weekend with a celebration of all things Chinese -- the fourth annual Splendor of China trade show and cultural festival.
The event typically draws 10,000 people who cruise the 100 booths showcasing Chinese antiques, jewelry, fashion, souvenirs, crafts, fresh produce and more.
Splendor of China
Festival hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Place: Blaisdell Center
Admission: $3; free for children 10 and under and military. Tickets available at Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, 42 N. King St., and at the door
Call: 533-3181, e-mail info@chinesechamber.com or visit splendorofchina.com
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Plenty of entertainment is also promised, with lion and dragon dances, folk dances, opera, martial arts demonstrations, a pingpong tournament, Chinese dog show and manapua-eating contest.
For those interested in learning an art form, demonstrations will be offered in mah-jongg, cooking, acupuncture, feng shui, chop-carving and paper-cutting.
A Keiki Korner offers activities to distract the kids while their parents are soaking in all that culture.
There's a very, very long list of activities -- here are some highlights:
» Opening ceremonies, with dragon and lion dancing; 11 a.m. Saturday
» The reigning Narcissus Queen, Kristi Sue-Ako, and her court will appear, and the 2007 queen contestants will be introduced; 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Narcissus contestants fashion show, 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
» Dog show of exclusively Chinese species, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
» Shanghai Bistro cooking demonstration, 4:30 p.m. Saturday
» Royal Hawaiian Band Chinese concert, 10 a.m. Sunday
» Lion dance exhibition, 11 a.m. Sunday