VAN NUYS, Calif.,—With Garo and Sosse Eshgian as its Honorary Presidents, Homenetmen’s 44th Navasartian Games’ final games and festival weekend is fast approaching. This includes its Victory Banquet, opening and closing ceremonies, and four-day festival.
The much-anticipated Victory Banquet will be held on Sunday, June 30 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. During this event, Garo and Sosse Eshgian will formally accept their role as Honorary Presidents of the 44th Navasartian Games. The Eshgian’s will continue this role beyond the Navasartian Games, and throughout the upcoming year, with their insights and guidance, supporting the organization in various ways. During the event, the 2019 Exemplary Homenetmen Member, Vartkes Shekherdemian, will also be recognized.
The Victory Banquet also serves as the prime occasion to gather Homenetmen members spanning generations, who will collectively celebrate the victories of the Navasartian Games.
The four-day festival of the Navasartian Games will officially open on Wednesday, July 3 at Birmingham High School. The high school is located at 17000 Haynes St., Van Nuys, CA 91406. A flag ceremony, performed by Homenetmen scouts, will be led by the Homenetmen Regional Marching Band. Well-known singer Varand will sing the anthems.
During the course of the festival’s four days, entertainment will be provided by well-known singers in the community. The first night’s program will include patriotic Armenian songs by Karnig Sarkissian, followed by fireworks.
The grounds of the festival will include numerous booths with items for sale by various vendors. Food will be available for purchase through various Homenetmen chapters’ booths, with members preparing and serving a variety of foods.
A children’s arts & crafts booth will be open for youth of all ages and, on each evening between the hours of 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., there will be a performance by the children’s singer Maggie.
Athletic games will continue in the gyms and field of Birmingham High School, including basketball, volleyball, and soccer. Individual sports will also be held, as follows:
- Chess, ping-pong, and tennis tournaments will be held on Thursday, July 4 starting at 9 a.m.
- Track and field competitions will be held on Friday, July 5 starting at 8 a.m.
- Swimming competitions will be held on Saturday, July 6 starting at 8 a.m.
For the second year in a row, the Homenetmen Hrashq program athletes, comprised of youth with disabilities, will also be participating in the Navasartian Games. Alongside their participation in track and field competitions, Hrashq athletes will also participate in soccer games as well this year.
The Navasartian closing ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 6, at 6 p.m. on the field of Birmingham High School. As spectators gather for the closing ceremony, a half hour program will include entertainment by the Homenetmen marching band, a performance by the children’s singer Maggie, and a number of songs dedicated to Homenetmen will be sung by Varand.
The closing ceremony will begin with a flag ceremony by Homenetmen scouts, led by the Homenetmen marching band. After remarks are delivered, the parade of scouts and athletes will take place, after which trophies will be distributed in the various sports.
Following the closing ceremony, the festival will continue until midnight. Concurrently, the women’s and men’s basketball championship games will be held in the main gym. Tickets for these games are $20 per person, which can be purchased online.
The festival’s daily admission for adults is $10 per person and $7 for children. A daily parking pass is $5 per vehicle. The price for preferred parking is $10 per vehicle.
The Homenetmen Regional Executive looks forward to the attendance of community members on July 3 – 6 at Birmingham High School, as the 44th Navasartian Games conclude.
Additional information regarding the Homenetmen 44th Navasartian Games can be obtained by following articles published in Asbarez Newspaper, visiting the Homenetmen website, watching the HTV program, as well as contacting the Homenetmen Regional Office at (323) 344-4300.
The following is the entertainment schedule for the July 3 – 6 festival:
Wednesday, July 3
A special opening ceremony will be held during which Homenetmen scouts will perform a flag ceremony led by the Homenetmen Regional Marching Band. Well-known singer and Homenetmen member Varand will perform the anthems. Entertainment will follow, as such:
Anto Teghararian: 7:45 – 8:35 p.m.
Anoush Petrosyan: 8:35 – 9:05 p.m.
Karnig Sarkissian & Fireworks: 9:15 p.m. – Midnight
Thursday, July 4
Hagop Hovsepian: 7 – 8 p.m.
Artin Bedrossian: 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Arsham Babelian: 8:30 – 9:15 p.m.
Lia (Bamboo): 9:15 – 10 p.m.
Suro: 10 – 10:30 p.m.
Narek Magaryan: 10:30 – 11 p.m.
Tigran Asatryan: 11 p.m. – Midnight
Friday, July 5
Garen Dakessian: 7 – 8 p.m.
Sako Tashjian (Canada): 8 – 9 p.m.
David Lousakian (France): 9 – 10 p.m.
Suro: 10 – 10:30 p.m.
Vartan Tahmazian: 10:30 – 11:30 p.m.
Sako Tashjian: 11:30 p.m. – Midnight
Saturday, July 6
Arno: 8 – 9 p.m.
Mer Hovo: 9 – 9:30 p.m.
Varand & Fireworks: 9:30 – 10 p.m.
David Lousakian: 10 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Ararad Amadyan: 11 p.m. – Midnight