Portland Parks & Rec to Celebrate Southeast Asian Cultures at Glenhaven Park

Email to a friend Permalink

Friday, April 29, 2016

GoLocalPDX Lifestyle Team

Portland Parks &  Recreation are presenting  a celebration of Southeast Asian Cultures with their Cambodian, Lao, Thai and Burmese New Year in the Park. The event will take place on Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Glenhaven Park. 

Those attending will enjoy a day full of food, music, dance and games. 

“Portland is increasingly culturally diverse, and much of that has come with the integration of refugees and immigrants into our community. From the Jade Night Market, to the Portland Mercado, to the Cambodian/Lao/Thai/Burmese New Year in the Park, Portland is made richer because we’ve welcomed new neighbors,” said Mayor Charlie Hales. 

Hales will serve as the keynote speaker for the event. 

“Many immigrant and refugee families have faced tremendous challenges. It is important that Portland parks are inclusive of our diverse communities. This multicultural New Year Celebration is another important step towards the inclusion of all Portlanders in enjoyment of our shared parks,” said Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. 

Cambodia, Laotian, Thai and Burmese cultures celebrate New Year each April, but historically, Portland’s communities always held separate celebrations.  Now, for the second straight year, the different languages and cultures are coming together to celebrate.

New Year in the Park 

Saron Khut, the owner of the Cambodian restaurant Mekong Bistro, had the idea to plan a Cambodian New Year celebration at Glenhaven Park, across the street from his restaurant. One day, a few Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) staff came in for lunch, and Saron approached them about the possibility of sponsoring the event.

For more information, click here. 

Related Articles

• Portland Winterhawks End 2014 On A Whimper, But Open New Year With A Bang
• Portland Threads: New Year’s Resolutions?
• Oregon Parks Depatrment Plan Hikes for New Year’s Day
• Portlanders Among Most Likely to Have a Hangover on New Year’s Day
• Rapha Festive 500: Roll Into The New Year Fit As A Fiddle
• The Only New Year’s Resolution You’ll Ever Need
• Red Cross Responds to Pair of New Year’s Day Fires
• Oregon Historical Society Kicks Off Chinese New Year With Dance and Parade
• Forget New Year Resolutions, Try Year End Resolutions Instead
• Beaverton Library to Host Chinese New Year Party
• Beauty New Year Resolutions from Top PDX Fashionistas
• 5 New Year Resolutions for Oregon Sports Fans
• College Admissions: College-Related New Year Resolutions
• Dear Robin: How Do I Stick To My New Year’s Weight Loss Resolution, Again?
• Fit For Life: Have You Done the whole New Year’s Resolution Thing?
• Dine Out on New Year’s Eve at Serratto
• 10 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in PDX

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink