Celebrate and learn about the customs and traditions of Asian-Americans with entertaining, educational events for the entire family as Tulsa City-County Library presents the eighth annual Asian-American Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 5 at the Martin Regional Library, 2601 S. Garnett Road.

Explore the colorful cultures of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and other countries in Asia. The festival kicks off at 10:45 a.m. with a vibrant Dragon Dance, featuring a 70-foot dragon from China, and includes martial arts demonstrations; Kyoto, Japan, art exchange exhibit; manga class; bamboo flute music; Chinese folk dance; traditional Korean dance; classical Indian dance; a Japanese tea ceremony; acupuncture demonstration; and children’s activities.

Local martial arts instructors and their students will demonstrate kung fu, karate, tae kwon do and other traditional Asian disciplines throughout the day under a big tent outside in the back of the library. Students from Ten Tigers Kung Fu, Tulsa Arnis Club and Shikara Ashi Te Ryu are scheduled to perform.

Numerous activities and presentations are scheduled indoors throughout the festival, including interactive educational booths featuring crafts for kids, temporary tattoos, name translation, henna painting and origami instruction. The festival also features authentic arts and crafts booths. Food concession is provided by India Palace. Admission to the festival is free.

The festival is sponsored and funded by the Tulsa Library Trust, with assistance from the Tulsa City-County Library Staff Association Recycling Proceeds Fund, Tulsa World, Nam Hai Oriental Food Supermarket and Panera Bread.

Other presenters and participating groups are: Akdar Shrine Temple; American Airlines Asian Employees Group; Christie Cannon, manga instructor; China Roses; Eisenhower International School Culture Box Project; Brian Franklin, Shakuhachi musician; Hoyukai Japanese Friendship Club; India Association of Greater Tulsa; Indonesian Club; Jenks Public Schools art instructors and students; Konnichiwas; Oklahoma Secretary of State Office; O.S.D. Korean dance group; Richardson Asian Art Museum; Sanskriti School of Dance; Tulsa Global Alliance; Tulsa Go Club; Tulsa-Kaohsiung, Taiwan, sister cities; Tulsa-Utsunomiya, Japan, sister cities; University of Tulsa Multicultural Student Programs; and Xai Chiropractic and Acupuncture.

For more information about the Asian-American Festival, visit www.tulsalibrary.org or call the Martin Regional Library at 669-6340.