20th Anniversary May 20th, 2012 at Old Sacramento & Westfield Downtown Plaza from 10:00am to 5:00pm

President's Message
Welcome to the Twentieth Annual Pacific Rim Street Festival Celebration in Old Sacramento and the Downtown Plaza. The Planning Committee has been working all year to bring you "Celebration of 20 Years."

It's actually been 21 years in the making since it takes a year to plan the event. I remember the first year when we were learning how to make the event happen. We actually made a profit of $200 our very first year and we learned how to put on a festival.

Frank Fat's vision and dream is still an important aspect of this event. He wanted to have a festival where we could learn about each other's cultures and appreciate our similarities and differences—and be a community together.

The planning committee members deserve a round of applause for their dedication, direction, and diligence in putting this festival together. And thank you to the volunteers who come together each year to help with the festivities, especially the early morning crew who help with set-up. And a BIG THANK YOU to our sponsors who support this event. The Pacific Rim Street Fest is a success due to all of us working towards the same goal.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate this year. In twenty years I've learned two specific things: 1) Be FLEXIBLE; and 2) No matter how much we plan and anticipate, you CANNOT control the weather. We have had it all…the heat in the 100+ temperatures, the wind (planning committee members and volunteers were holding down the entertainment covering due to the wind gusts one year), and the rain. But we have also had some nice weather (in the 80s and low 90s) at the festival.

So stop by and taste the food at one of our many food booths, watch and listen to the variety of entertainers at one of the four Entertainment stages, purchase a t-shirt or merchandise from one of our Art and Craft vendors. Thank you for attending the annual Pacific Rim Street Festival and enjoying the festivities.

Merlayna Yee-Chin
Chairperson & Volunteer Chairperson
Pacific Rim Street Fest Planning Committee

Spices
by Randall Ishida / Paraeducater Specialist

Each year the Pacific Rim Street Festival features a one word theme.  One Word of simplicity is yet so complex.   SPICES is the 2011 theme.  We live in a multicultural world.  The Asian Pacific Rim is just a small part of such diversity, that we live today.  Like the spices and herbs that we put on our food each country takes on a flavor of its own.  Many groups of explorers of all ethnicity fought many centuries ago and discovered and traded many spices.  Many lives were lost because of the spice wars and trade that they tried to get all for their own.  Anywhere from Africa to Arabian traders, each one had their ultimate origin in Southeast Asia.

Spices originate from various plants. Some are added with other plants to make a certain flavor or smell.   As an example cloves come from a bud, cinnamon comes from a bark, pepper and nutmeg is a part of a fruit of a plant. Ginger is a root and mustard is a seed.  Curry is made up of a seasoning of a combination of spices, mixed together. Most spices grow in tropical countries.  Rosemary, thyme and mint and others can be found in our own yard and neighborhood.

Before refrigeration the spices helped preserve meat preventing it from rotting.  Throughout evolution man has used spices for fragrance, flavoring, color (for dyes) and medicinal uses.   Thousands of years ago the Chinese use many herbs and spices for healing.  The Egyptians used it for culinary and cosmetic use as well for mummification. The Romans used spices for magic and sorcery.  The goods were shipped by sea. Southeast Asian is the main hub or capitol for the trade between Asia and throughout the globe.

Today as we come together as people, to celebrate the Pacific Rim Street Festival, just like the spices that enrich our food, smells and the way we eat, the diverse Asian culture makes up the “Spice of Life”. Enjoy the Pacific Rim Street Festival and taste and smell the different foods that the spices spruce up. See if you can differentiate the many Asian spices.  It may be hot, spicy, mild or wild. You be the judge, for it is for all to enjoy.

Festival History & Background

In 1993, the first Pacific Rim Street Fest was presented in Old Sacramento by the restauranteur, Frank Fat, and community groups. With his ever optimistic spirit, he was able to create a coalition of community leaders and succeed in seeing his dream of a street festival come to pass.

For the past eighteen years the festival has displayed the richness and diversity of many Pacific Rim cultures through cultural programs, entertainment, art and food. The event also enhances the community's knowledge of Asian/Pacific Island cultures in a fun and positive environment.

The Annual Pacific Rim Street Fest is scheduled for May 22, 2011 from 10:00am-5:00pm in Old Sacramento and Westfield Downtown Plaza. Having people of all ages and backgrounds at the event offers an excellent vehicle for leading businesses to showcase their support for the Asian American community. Each year we feature an aspect of Asian culture as the theme of the festival. For the year 2011, the theme is "Spice".

Ride RT buses to the Fest!