Houston International Fest - CANCELLED

DUE TO LACK OF ATTENDEES - THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Ifest 2008 - Spotlighting Out of Africa

www.ifest.org
The 37th annual festival brings the history and traditions of Africa to Houston

WHAT: Houston International Festival 2008
Spotlighting ?Out of Africa: The Three Journeys?

WHEN: Weekends April 19-20 and April 26-27, 2008
(Sat 12 p.m. ? 10 p.m. ; Sun 12 p.m. ? 8 p.m.)
WHERE: Downtown Houston ? Including City Hall, Upper and Lower Tranquility Park, Bagby Street and Upper and Lower Sam Houston Parks

INTERNATIONAL
MUSIC & DANCE: Featuring diverse and celebrated music and dance groups from around the world. Six international entertainment-themed zones feature performers from around the world, from Cajun, zydeco, blues and rock, to country, folk, Latin and reggae. Zones include Out of Africa, International, Target Kids, Louisiana, Latin and Jamaica.

Upper Sam Houston Park will be the focal point for the WaMu Out of Africa Zone. Visitors will enter the zone through a replica of the gate leading into the Ethiopian city of Harar, the fourth holiest site in Islam. From the entrance, visitors will wind through Upper Sam Houston Park following a chronological display of exhibits that illustrate the three journeys.

Some of the presenting exhibits illustrating the three journeys include a reproduction of a mountain-hewn church of Lalibela; Ethiopian coffee ceremonies; background on the Gullah people; displays about Islam in Ethiopia; a segregation and the Civil Rights movement exhibit; a Buffalo Soldiers Museum; and a display showcasing African contributions in the Americas.

The H-E-B Cultural Stage will feature dance performances, cuisines of Africa and fashions of Ethiopia. Celebrity and local chefs will present cooking demonstrations during multiple daily performances. In any area of the Out of Africa Zone, visitors will be given a taste of the fascinating traditions of the African culture and its influences on our world today.

INTERNATIONAL
MARKETS: An outdoor international art gallery and shopping experience offering seven arts markets and international craft demonstrations featuring works from more than 500 artists from all over the world. Markets will include Out of Africa, Gypsy, International, African-Caribbean, Bayou, Latin and Fine Arts Avenue.

INTERNATIONAL
FOOD: In addition to truly authentic African cuisine, the festival will bring together flavors from around the world. These will include Cajun, Creole, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Thai, Italian, Japanese, as well as Southwestern and Continental.

TICKETS: Tickets are on sale March 10 at Houston area H-E-B stores and online at www.ifest.org
Early Bird Discount Tickets: $8.50 until April 16
Advance discount Tickets: $12.50 from April 16 until April 27
Tickets at the gate: $15

Parking: Easy access parking in Houston's Theater District lots under the Festival site, $6.
Transportation: Call METROLine 713-635-4000 for information on routes and schedules and all METRO services.