Sister Cities Festival in Chicago June 15 - 18

CHICAGO SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ON DALEY PLAZA, JUNE 15 – 18, 2009

CHICAGO, IL (June, 2009) – The Chicago Sister Cities International Program will host its 4th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival on Daley Plaza on June 15-18, 2009 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily. With all 28 of our international sister cities represented, this is the only city festival that truly represents the diversity and international spirit that exists in Chicago.

As part of this year’s festival, Daley Plaza will be transformed into an international village featuring authentic ethnic food, merchandise and entertainment from around the world. Visitors to the festival can taste Colombian empanadas and Pakistani samosas, purchase antique African art or beaded jewelry, all while watching acrobats visiting from China or traditional Ukrainian dancers.
New this year! The festival will feature an “International Summer Social” on Wednesday, June 17 from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. p.m. Evening entertainment includes: Chicago Aissawa Project (belly dancing) and the Choom Sarang Korean Dance Group. Guests will also enjoy sporting activities with Chicago 2016, culinary demos with Chef Pierre Pollin, highlighting cuisine from Paris, France and much more! Evening culinary demos will take place at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
In 2008, the festival coincided with the naming of the City of Chicago as a finalist to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Mayor Richard M. Daley, Senator Barack Obama and Congressman Rahm Emanuel joined Olympians, Paralympians, the Sister Cities community and thousands of Chicagoans to celebrate the announcement.

Participating performers for the 4th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival are outlined in the following week-at-a-glance calendar. Performance times are subject to change. Please visit www.chicagosistercities.com for updates and a full list of food and merchandising vendors.

Monday, June 15, 2009
Time
Performer
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Cirque Shanghai representing Shanghai, China
12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
Opening Ceremony
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
Skotiabank Caribana representing Toronto, Canada
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
ELLAS Greek Dancers representing Athens, Greece
Cooking Demo with Chef Koetke highlighting Amman, Jordan


Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Time
Performer
12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
Skotiabank Caribana representing Toronto, Canada
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
“Grandis” Folk Dance Ensemble representing Vilnius, Lithuania
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Ngoma Alegre with Tierra Colombiana Folk Dancers representing Bogotá, Colombia
Cooking Demo with Chef Leo Waldmeier representing Lucerne, Switzerland


Wednesday, June 17, 2009 – EXTENDED HOURS!
Time
Performer
12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
Cesky Svaz Rock and Rullu representing Czech Republic, Prague
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
Sam Burckhardt Quartet representing Lucerne, Germany
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Chicago Koto Group representing Osaka, Japan
Cooking demo with Chef Dina Altieri


Thursday, June 18, 2009
Time
Performer
12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble representing Kyiv, Ukraine
12:30 – 12:45 p.m.
World Fashion Chicago celebrates Africa representing Accra, Ghana
12:45 – 1 p.m.
Rhythms of India (Jai Ho) representing Delhi, India
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago representing Gothenburg, Sweden
Cooking demo with Chef Chris Quirk

*Daily culinary demo times: 11:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1 p.m.
*Performance times are subject to change

Food Vendors Include:
Sandy’s Bakery representing Belgrade, Serbia
Mazzone’s Snack Foods representing Milan, Italy
Lalqila representing Lahore, Pakistan
Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush representing Milan, Italy
Kasia’s Deli representing Warsaw, Poland
Las Tablas representing Bogota, Colombia
Stella’s Market & Catering, Global
Shokolad Pastry and Café Inc. representing Kyiv, Ukraine
Bowl Square representing Busan, Republic of Korea
Kendall College, Global

Merchandise Vendors Include:
What the Traveler Saw representing Accra, Ghana
E & J Designs representing Mexico City, Mexico
Oriental Art Center representing Shenyang, China
Arabah representing Petach Tikva, Israel
Mata Traders representing Delhi, India
Jan Lee Design representing Shanghai, China
Ten Thousand Villages–Fair Trade Goods, Global
Antique African Art representing Accra, Ghana
Fashion House representing Shenyang, China
Nuada representing Galway, Ireland
Ziyadd Products representing Amman, Jordan
Casita Azul Folk Art representing Mexico City, Mexico
Chicago 2016 representing Chicago
About CSCIP
The Chicago Sister Cities International Program provides leadership to develop, manage, and coordinate comprehensive programs and projects with Chicago’s sister cities. It aims to increase international trade, promote economic development and support exchanges in the fields of culture, education, medicine, social services, environment, and technology with its sister cities for the benefit of the City of Chicago, its residents and businesses. For more information about the Chicago Sister Cities International Program, please call (312) 744-2172 or visit www.chicagosistercities.com.


Chicago’s Sister Cities include: Accra, Ghana (1989); Amman, Jordan (2004); Athens Greece (1997); Belgrade, Serbia (2005); Birmingham, England (1993); Bogotá, Colombia (2009); Busan, Republic of Korea (2007); Casablanca, Morocco (1982); Delhi, India (2001); Durban, South Africa (1997); Galway, Ireland (1997); Gothenburg, Sweden (1987); Hamburg, Germany (1994); Kyiv, Ukraine (1991); Lahore, Pakistan (2007); Lucerne, Switzerland (1998); Mexico City, Mexico (1991); Milan, Italy (1973); Moscow, Russia (1997); Osaka, Japan (1973); Paris, France (1996); Petach Tikva, Israel (1994); Prague, Czech Republic (1990); Shanghai, China (1985); Shenyang, China (1985); Toronto, Canada (1991); Vilnius, Lithuania (1993); and Warsaw, Poland (1960).
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