[Archived] City of Alexandria Holds 15th Annual Armenian Festival on Saturday, June 2

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	May 25, 2007 PIO# 131-07/rdo	Steve Mason, Director of Communications, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

City of Alexandria Holds 15th Annual Armenian Festival on Saturday, June 2

The City of Alexandria’s 15th Annual Armenian Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 2, from noon to 6 pm at Market Square, 301 King St. Admission is free and the festival will be held rain or shine.

Entertainment includes performances by the Arax Dance Ensemble, the Washington Armenian Ensemble classical instrumentalists, the Birky Family enacting Armenian folk tales, and vocalist Naira Babayan. Sevan Birky will read children’s stories.

The festival will also feature displays showcasing Armenian paintings and arts and crafts. Armenian food will be available for purchase. The food will include beef, lamb and pork kabobs, lahmajun (a Middle Eastern style gourmet pizza), dolma (stuffed vegetable dishes), pitas, chopped vegetable salad, and baklava (a layered pastry made of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup).

The Armenian Festival is an annual charity event that benefits Gyumri, Alexandria’s Sister City, in Armenia. Proceeds from the festival assist with the humanitarian and educational needs of Gyumri’s citizens. The City’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee are co-sponsoring the event.

Market Square is served by DASH transit line #AT 3, #AT 4, and #AT 3-4 Loop. For DASH schedule information, call 703-370-DASH or visit www.dashbus.com. For Metrobus schedule information, call 202-637-7000 or visit www.wmata.com.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Cheryl Lawrence, Special Events Supervisor, of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703-838-4844 (TTY 703-838-4902) or e-mail cheryl.lawrence@alexandriava.gov.

For additional information, call the City’s Special Events Hotline at 703-883-4686.

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