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2012 Indianapolis Chinese Festival on September 8th

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The City of Indianapolis is hosting the 2012 Indianapolis Chinese Festival on September 8 from noon to 7 p.m. in Military Park, located in downtown Indianapolis.

Now in its fifth year, the Indianapolis Chinese Festival continues to grow in size and experience to provide visitors with hands-on opportunities to explore Chinese culture. This popular festival attracts a wide range of people including Indianapolis’ Chinese community, local school children and their parents, university students and faculty from all over the state, conference visitors who extend their stay in Indianapolis to enjoy what the city has to offer, and many locals who are interested in the fascinating history and culture of China.

In addition to the dazzling lion and dragon dancers, which open and close the festival, visitors to the event can experience Chinese food, games, music, costumes and arts. Visitors can try their hand at Chinese paper folding and cutting, write calligraphy using an ink and brush, play Chinese instruments, dress up in traditional Chinese clothing, or learn Mahjong. Children will enjoy exploring China in the kids’ area, where they can learn how to play many different Chinese games including Chinese jump rope, jiangxi, yoyo, tangrams and Chinese checkers.

The festival opens at noon with a lively performance by local lion and dragon dancers followed by a taichi demonstration. The stage will host a variety of performances by local Chinese performers. The performances include dancers, singers, musicians and martial artists of all ages.

In addition to many hands-on exhibits, the 2012 festival will also feature delicious Chinese food from local restaurants.

Military Park
601 W. New York St.
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202

Indiana AIDS Walk Promises a Day of Fundraising and Family-Friendly Fun

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On Saturday, October 8, more than 2,000 people will walk together in the 21st annual Indiana AIDS Walk for many different reasons.

Some will walk for to raise money to stock food pantries. Others will walk to keep those living with HIV/AIDS from being homeless.  Some will walk so others don’t have to skip their medication and can travel to and from doctor’s appointments, work or school. Still others will walk to keep someone else’s lights on or to keep the furnace running.  No matter why they walk, they all will be supporting crucial care and services for the more than 10,000 Hoosiers living with HIV/AIDS, funded through the Indiana AIDS Fund, a program of The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis.

The Indiana AIDS Walk, which will step off at 1 p.m. at University Park, adjacent to the Indiana War Memorial, raises funds for the Gregory R. Powers Direct Emergency Financial Assistance (DEFA) program. DEFA provides needed assistance to HIV/AIDS patients in emergency situations through AIDS service organizations across the state that provide hands-on care management and assistance.

In addition to raising money for an important cause, this year’s event promises a full day of family-friendly and healthy activities, food, fun and live entertainment for the public beginning at noon. University Park will be filled with an informational Wellness Fair, children’s activities like face-painting and craft activities, and live bands and other entertainment. A new Celebration Garden will offer food and beer and wine for those over age 21.

Event Overview:

  • The Indiana AIDS Walk events begin at 11:30 & runs until 5 p.m. There are over 25 booths, plus the Celebration Garden sponsored by Coors Light & Barefoot Wine. Mimosas will be served at 11:30 a.m.
  • There is always a great show of dogs at the walk and this year, there’s a Bark Park sponsored by Pet Supplies “Plus” and Auntie Leila’s Pet Salon. The first 75 dogs to check in will receive a Pet Swag Bag. Photos will be taken of all pets. Walk participants and the public can stop by the Bark Park and vote for their choice of Cutest Dog.
  • The Children’s Area will feature a bounce house, face painting and crafts.
  • At the end of the walk, Toby Cork, from the Concord Center team will launch an Angry Bird for every $20 he receives in donations. View the great video fundraising pitch: http://ow.ly/6J4j6
  • Prizes will be awarded for Best Dressed, Most Spirited and Cutest Dog.
  • Currently, there are 64 teams participating in the walk.

Web site www.indianaaidswalk.org is the quick and easy way to register or find out more information about this 5K walk and associated activities. While the event is free, participants are encouraged to make donations and raise additional donations from friends and family.

The presenting sponsor for the 2011 Indiana AIDS Walk is Indiana University Health. Marathoner Sponsor is the Marion County Public Health Department. The Wellness Fair is sponsored by Indiana University Health Bloomington – Positive Link and NUVO Newsweekly. Additional sponsors include BioScrip Pharmacy, Circle City HIV/AIDS Coalition, GayIndy.com and the family of Radio One Indianapolis properties including WTLC-AM, WTLC-FM, Radio NOW and IMC.

The Indiana AIDS Fund, a program of The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis, is a private, philanthropic fund-raising and grant-making organization dedicated to supporting HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in Indiana. Since its inception in 1994 by The Health Foundation, the Indiana AIDS Fund has become the largest privately funded program supporting HIV/AIDS prevention, education and care in Indiana as well as a recognized authority on HIV/AIDS issues www.indianaaidsfund.org.

Indianapolis Chinese Festival Offers Free Family Fun

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The City of Indianapolis is hosting the 2011 Indianapolis Chinese Festival on September 10 from noon to 7 p.m. in Military Park, located in downtown Indianapolis. Now in its fourth year, the Indianapolis Chinese Festival continues to grow in size and experience to provide visitors with hands-on opportunities to explore Chinese culture. In addition to the dazzling lion and dragon dancers, which open and close the festival, visitors to the event can experience Chinese food, games, music, costumes and arts.

Visitors can try their hand at Chinese paper folding and cutting, write calligraphy using an ink and brush, play Chinese instruments, dress up in traditional Chinese clothing, or learn Mahjong or ping pong. Children will enjoy exploring China in the kids’s area, where they can learn how to play many different Chinese games including Chinese jump rope, jiangxi, yoyo, tangrams and Chinese checkers. There will also be a face painter and tattoo artists on hand providing Chinese-themed temporary body art.

The festival opens at noon with a lively performance by local lion and dragon dancers followed by a taichi demonstration. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard will welcome the crowd and provide opening remarks at 1 p.m. at the park pagoda. Following Mayor Ballard’s remarks, the pagoda will host a variety of performances by local Chinese performers. The performances include dancers, singers, musicians and martial artists of all ages.

In addition to many new hands-on exhibits, the 2011 festival has also added traditional Chinese food prepared by the local Chinese community including IUPUI Chinese School participants and Sunny and Sons.

For more information, visit the Indianapolis Chinese Festival website (www.indychinesefest.com) or follow updates on Twitter (@indychinesefest) or Facebook (indychinesefest).

Girls Rock! Indianapolis Showcase (August 6th)

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The girls of Girls Rock! Indianapolis are closing out their camp week with a band showcase that shows off their mad music skills. Bands performing are comprised of girls ages 8 – 16 who participated in the Girls Rock! Indianapolis summer camp. The showcase is the culmination of a week’s worth of intensive songwriting, rehearsing, and in most cases, actually learning to play an instrument. Fifteen new girl bands will take the stage and perform the songs that they wrote and rehearsed throughout the week.

Girls Rock! Indianapolis (http://girlsrockindy.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to building positive self-esteem in girls and encouraging creative expression through music. The music education programs provide girls with an opportunity to participate in an environment that fosters leadership, encourages social change, and cultivates a supportive community of female peers and mentors.

Pie Wars (Benefiting Indy School On Wheels) – June 28

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Indy Pie Wars brings together the yumminess of pie with the benefit of helping kids. The greater Indianapolis social media community is getting together for a pie smack down on Tuesday, June 28, 2011. Amateur bakers from Noblesville to Greenwood will be bringing their best to Brugge Brasserie to compete for the coveted “Pie Maker Jedi” award. All proceeds from the event will be donated to School On Wheels, to help provide tutoring and advocacy for school-aged kids impacted by homelessness.

RSVP: http://ow.ly/5p2dF

Participate in one of three ways

1. Contestant – Sign up to enter the pie judging competition. If you enter the competition, you must bring two pies – one for judging and one for sharing. Pieces of pie will be sold to raise funds for School On Wheels. See below for judging rules.

2. Participant – Don’t want to be judged? Not problem. Simply bring a pie (homemade or store bought). Pieces of pie will be sold for $5 a piece to raise funds for School On Wheels.

3. Attendee – Just enjoy eating pie? Who doesn’t? Pay a $5 attendance fee and then come enjoy a great selection of pies for $5 per slice. Your attendance fee will be donated to School On Wheels.

Help School On Wheels

To raise money for School On Wheels, pies provided by Pie Wars Attendees and Contestants will be sold at $5 per slice. Please bring cash or your checkbook to purchase pie slices and make donations. Credit cards cannot be accepted at the event.

PLEASE NOTE: While you can pay at the door, YOU MUST RSVP if you are attending because of space restrictions.