FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2015 Reston Multicultural Festival Performers and Activities Announced (PDF)
View 2015 Stage Schedule (PDF)
RESTON, VA – Each fall, the Reston community is invited to “Discover the World” at the Reston Multicultural Festival. This signature Reston event honors the diversity that is one of the community’s greatest assets, and brings to life the vision that Reston founder Robert E. Simon had for this unique place. The 2015 Reston Multicultural Festival returns to Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday, September 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to dress in native attire and share the uniqueness of their cultural roots.
The Festival will open with a Naturalization Ceremony where some of America’s newest citizens will take the Oath of Allegiance. The World Stage, Global Stage and the Gallery Stage will feature an all-day series of free performances representing many of the world’s cultures. Fans of dance will enjoy Spanish, Brazilian, Burmese, Indian, Russian and Chinese dances, among others. Numerous musicians performing a variety of world music styles will also appear. Two National Heritage Fellows will join the festivities this year: Master luthier and guitarist Wayne Henderson and an Iraqi virtuoso oud musician and composer Rahim AlHaj.
In addition to performances, the Festival will feature an array of arts and crafts activities and our unique Multicultural Book Fair for the entire family. The Book Fair will feature award-winning titles that vividly tell the stories that shape the world’s cultures.
Also new to this year’s Festival is the unveiling of the We Make Reston exhibit, an INSIDE OUT Project, created by the people of Reston to showcase our community’s greatest strength – the multitude of perspectives and histories our people bring to Reston. The exhibit will be on display on the Lake Anne sea wall (located across the water from Heron House) and inside the Jo Ann Rose Gallery at Reston Community Center Lake Anne. This exhibit features large-scale photographic portraits representing the diverse faces of Reston. In addition to these two locations, images will also be at South Lakes High School, and the Comstock properties located at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station. More than 300 completed entries were received. One hundred sixty nine images were selected to appear in the large format (36″ x 53″) public exhibitions at the four locations throughout Reston. All of the entries that met our criteria are pictured in a We Make Reston booklet available at the Festival’s Information Booth.
The effect of this public art project is profound and joins other INSIDE OUT work world-wide that celebrates our common humanity. We Make Reston is coordinated by Reston Community Center and the Initiative for Public Art – Reston.
The We Make Reston public art project launches a series of community dialogues to explore issues of diversity, disproportionality, how the justice system in our country functions, and how we can achieve greater opportunity equity – not just equality. RCC and its partners will present these dialogs in the coming months to help us reconnect to and sustain our founding values and how we live them. All are invited on Sunday, September 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the first conversation in the Jo Ann Rose Gallery at Reston Community Center Lake Anne.
On Saturday, attendees can enjoy culturally diverse foods at the Global Café or shop in the Global Market and take home a memento from artisans’ work from neighboring lands. With a vast array of performing arts, family activities, ethnic cuisine and global arts and crafts, there will be something for everyone to enjoy! A complete schedule of events is available at www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
For more information, contact BeBe Nguyen (703) 390-6145 or visit our website.
Where: Lake Anne Plaza
1609-A Washington Plaza
Reston, VA 20190
When: Saturday, September 26, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Parking: Off-site Parking is available at Brown’s Chapel, and the Tzu Chi Foundation. All are within a short walking distance to the Festival site.
The Reston Multicultural Festival is presented by Reston Community Center, hosted by Lake Anne Plaza, and co-sponsored by Reston Association, Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association, and the Lake Anne Merchants Association with partners from a variety of Reston-based organizations and businesses. Reston Lifestyle Magazine is the official media sponsor of this year’s Festival.
About Reston Community Center
Each year RCC offers more than 2,000 positive, self-development experiences that enhance the quality of life for all people living and working in Reston. RCC provides a wide range of programs in arts, aquatics, enrichment, fitness and life-long learning. We also create and sustain community traditions through special events, outreach activities and facility rentals. To find the programs or events that are right for you, visit or call 703-476-4500.
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Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request. For further information, contact Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500, TTY 711 or visit the website at www.restoncommunitycenter.com. Reston Community Center is located at 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA 20191. Reston Community Center is completely accessible to persons with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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