When: Sunday, May 6, 2012 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Where: The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

Free Admission

The International Childrens Festival is an interactive, educational event that allows children of all ages to travel the world in a single day. More than 20 Embassies host educational booths that highlight their countries rich cultural heritage, expose participants to international customs, and provide an important global perspective.

The Festival is hosted by Meridian International Center and THIS for Diplomats, in partnership with Cultural Tourism DC and the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Now in its sixth(6) year, the new Ronald Reagan Building venue provides additional capacity, Metro access, and brings the event downtown just steps away from the White House and National Mall.

A highlight of Meridians educational outreach program, the Festival provides vital and unique programming -free of charge- to children and their parents.

Performance Groups


12:30 pm - Tinkus - Pachamama - Bolivia
Performed by FC Pachamama
presented by the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia

1:00 pm - Opening Ceremony
The Honorable Vincent C. Gray, Mayor of DC
The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton, U.S. House of Representatives
Co-Chairs Judy Heisley Bishop and Pilar Frank O Leary
Mistress of Ceremonies, NBC4 Anchor and Reporter Angie Goff

1:10 pm - International Childrens Parade
Children in traditional dress representing Afghanistan, El Salvador, Egypt, Fiji, Guatemala, Israel, Kenya, Norway, Slovak Republic, St Kitts and Nevis, and the U.S. will cross the stage with their country flag, and exit into the exhibit hall.

1:20 pm - Kale Ukule Thiyala - Sri Lanka
Performed by Umanada Weerasinghe

1:30 pm - Indang Dance and the Plate Dance - West Sumatra/Indonesia
Performed by Rumah Gadang Group USA

1:45 pm - Dances of Eastern Europe - Eastern Europe
Performed by Carpathia Folk Dance Ensemble
Traditional dances from Romania, Ukraine, Poland and the Roma followed by a Macedonian dance lesson.

2:00 pm - Deutschland in der Welt des Funballs (Germany in the Soccer World) - Germany
Performed by the German School Washington, DC presented by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

2:15 pm - La Bayadere Duet Act I - Russia
Performed by the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, DC

2:30 pm - Lezginka - Azerbaijan
Performed by the Karabakh Foundation Dancers

2:45 pm - A Medley of Irish Dances - Ireland
Performed by the O Neill-James School of Irish Dancing

3:00 pm - Pinot and Augustine - France
Performed by Happenstance Theatre presented by Alliance Française de Washington

3:15 pm - Ahava Mizrahit - Middle Eastern Love - Israel
Performed by Kesem presented by the Embassy of Israel

3:30 pm - The Cultural Academy for Excellence presents: Positive Vibrations Youth Steel Orchestra, an Interactive Steel Band Concert - Trinidad and Tobago
Performed by Positive Vibrations Youth Steel Orchestra(PVYSO) presented by the Cultural Academy for Excellence and the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago

3:50 pm - Thank You, Farewell, and Closing Dance Party!

>City(s) = Washington DC; State(s) = DC; Country = USA.
>Title = Meridian International Childrens Festival, The Ronald Reagan Building, Washington DC, US - Video.
>Keywords = International Childrens Festival, Ronald Reagan Building, Washington DC, US,International Trade Center, Embassies, educational booths , cultural heritage, Meridian International Center, Cultural Tourism DC, Carpathia Folk Dance Ensemble,FC Pachamama,Embassy Bolivia, German School Washington, Happenstance Theatre, Francaise de,Karabakh Foundation Dancers,Kesem Embassy of Israel,Kirov Academy of Ballet,O Neill James School of Irish Dancing,PVYSO,Trinidad and Tobago Embassy,Rumah Gadang Group (319)
>Catg =