Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
Armenian Independence Day Festival in Little Armenia Sets Stage for
Dynamic Celebration
– Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, diverse entertainment and vendors
all a part of unprecedented ‘block party’
Hollywood, CA – The Armenian Cultural Foundation has joined forces
with the Armenian Youth Federation – Western Region (AYF-WR), in
coordination with Los Angeles Council President Eric Garcetti, to
present a dynamic festival in the heart of Little Armenia on Sunday,
May 28, 2006.
Though the festival is an annual event for the AYF-WR in celebrating
Armenia’s first independence, this year’s celebration is unprecedented
because portions of Hollywood Boulevard (between Vermont and
Alexandria) will be blocked-off just for the event. The festival is
the result of extensive teamwork between Council President Garcetti’s
office, the ACF, and AYF, and will include special visits by
representatives of the Armenian Consulate in LA, and Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa.
A variety of vendors, diverse entertainers, performers, writers and
organizations will be on hand from 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to feature
Armenian culture and raise awareness of Armenian history. Traditional
Armenian food and artifacts will also be a part of the festivities,
all in the tradition of celebrating Armenia’s cultural wealth.
“The Armenian Youth Federation celebrates and recognizes the
importance of our nation’s victories in establishing, after 600 years
of oppression, the first independent republic of Armenia on May 28,
1918, which set the foundation to today’s independent republic,”
explains AYF-WR Chairman Tro Tchekidjian.
Entertainment at the festival will include performances by Element
Band, Vokee, Sako, Ara Sahagian, Karnig Sarkissian, Nersik Ispirian,
Paul Baghdadlian, Gor Mkhitarian, Ara Shahbazian, and many
more. Various dance groups are also scheduled to perform traditional
and contemporary interpretations of Armenian folk dances throughout
the day.
Organizations participating in the festival include the Armenian
Relief Society, Shant Student Association, Homenetmen (Armenian
General Athletic Union and Scouts), and the Armenian National
Committee of America.
For more information on the festival, please contact the AYF Western
Region office at (818) 507-1933 or visit The Event is
open to the public and admission is free.