April 6, 2006

Happy New Year!

Persian New Year festival celebrated at Vasona Park

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Sharing the richness of their culture, Iranians from the Bay Area gathered together at Vasona Lake Park this past weekend to celebrate NoRouz, the Persian New Year.

Vasona Lake Park was the site of this year’s NoRouz Festival, which brought the Iranian community together in joyful celebration.

The two-day festival filled festival participants with a sense of community. Children played ball, Frisbee and tag, while parents set out picnic lunches upon the sprawling lawn. People strolled along paths by the water’s edge, enjoying the beauty of their surroundings and casting off their cares.

Vibrant Iranian music and dance filled the stage, providing not only fun entertainment, but also a chance for parents to share their heritage with their children and for the community to come together as a whole.

Children’s activities, enticing traditional food and community booths added fun and depth to the festival, and were enjoyed by all.

“This event is very important to the Iranian-American community of the Bay Area,” said event founder Matt Kamkar, “and exposes our children to the joyous celebrations of our land.”

The Beshkan Dance Academy was visually stirring.	Dancers from the Beshkan and Niosha Dance Academies dazzle onlookers during the two-day event.

Vibrant music, dancing and dress brought life to the NoRouz festival.