Irvine Global Village Festival - Oct. 12-13, 2019 - Irvine, CA
This year will be the 18th edition of this festival that celebrates Irvine's diverse community. This premier Orange County multicultural festival will have all sorts of fun on hand as it represents about 50 different cultures. Here's some of what you can expect.

Live music and dance
Music and dance performances will take place on three stages and run almost non-stop throughout the day. Some of the acts set to perform include Caribbean music from Caribbean Jems, the Scottish bagpipers of Nicholson Pipes and Drums, Mumbai Madness Bollywood Dance "Flash Mob," Mariachi Voces de Jalisco, '80s cover band The Reflexx, tropical Latin dance band La Sirena y Mar del Ashe, TUPUA (song and dance of the South Pacific), Kelly Rae Band (country) and many others. Roving entertainment will be provided by a mariachi band on Oct. 12 and by African Kikundi drummers on Oct. 13. Festival-goers can also experience and maybe join in with dance troupes demonstrating Hawaiian, Persian, modern jazz, hip-hop, Polynesian, Indian, Chinese and Mexican and Bolivian folk dances. And if you've always wanted some tips on how to belly dance the Egyptian way, make sure to check out the Lyra Belly Dance Troupe performance.

Martial arts
Martial arts demonstrations will take place on Oct. 12 only. Set to attend are folks from the Gardena Judo Club (judo), OC Shaolin Temple Cultural Center (kung fu), International Nihon Karate Do Academy (traditional Shotokan karate) and several others. The West Coast Taekwondo Warriors will demonstrate "martial arts fusion."

Art
Festival-goers will have a chance to witness some incredible artistry in motion, like when Siriporn "Norita" Puasuwan-Stewart demonstrates the art of Thai fruit carving. Other demonstrations include the ancient art of Chinese writing, traditional Chinese hair styling, abstract water color painting with Aaron Troyer and a wheel throwing demonstration by Penelope Scullin of the amusingly-named Troublesome Creek Ceramics.

Food
No festival celebrating the cultures of the world would be complete without some serious food action, and the Irvine Global Village Festival will deliver in a big way. More than 30 food vendors will be in attendance and they'll be offering enticing edibles like Sudanese BBQ, Bolivian meat pies, mini Dutch pancakes, Taiwanese treats and Persian cuisine. Satisfy you curiosity and craving at Lynda's African Delicacies, Nab Kabob, Bawarchi Biryanis, Thai Spice, Namaste Indian Flavors, LaoMazing Eats and lots of others. Try to save room for desert from Laleh Ice Cream!

Cultural exhibits
Organizations representing dozens of nations and cultures will be in attendance. A partial list of who'll be on hand includes folks representing the cultures of Ghana, Iraq, Taiwan, Iran, India, Palestine, Pakistan, Ireland and Wales, Korea, Japan, Bulgaria, Mexico and Azerbaijan.

There'll also be art displays, artisans and merchants and plenty of fun just for the kiddies. For more information on the Irvine Global Village Festival including performance times for musicians and dancers go here.