by Veronica Murillo
Staff Writer
Houstonians can take a trip to China without ever leaving downtown Houston at the Houston International Festival Saturday and Sunday and April 26 and 27.
University of Houston students are among the 65,000 volunteers who will be assisting with the festival.
"Every year we have groups from all over the world, but we spotlight on one country. This year, it's China," said James W. Austin, president of the festival.
This year, the festival will focus on traditional Chinese customs through parades, performances and the Asian Market. Replicas of Chinese houses and buildings make up the Chinese Village, the festival site.
The Beijing Acrobatic Circus from China will execute balancing acts and stunts which include children. The circus consists of 50 performers from around the world.
The festival consists of six entertainment zones: Asian, African, American, Kids, Texan and Latin. Each theme offers food, music and products traditional to an area or concept.
For the second time, the festival has included an Extreme Sports section that caters to Houston's hard-core athletes. Rock climbing and sports of all sorts will quench the thirst of athletic junkies.
No one is forgotten at the annual festival. Children can enjoy the day with games, programs and music especially set for kids.
The festival is a nonprofit event. If profits do accumulate, the money is donated to arts-and-crafts programs.
For the fifth consecutive year, Patty Schnabel, a festival volunteer, has donated her time to help the international performers feel at home.
She drives performers to performing sites, helps with translating and runs errands. She said every day is an extraordinary experience.
Schnabel remembered one incident in particular when she had a difficult time locating an appliance.
"We were on our way to the site when the performers told me they needed an iron to iron their costumes," she said. "So here we are in the middle of downtown, looking for an iron and ironing board. It's a lot of quick problem solving, [but] it's a lot of fun."
She said the event not only offers an exposure to different cultures, but also reunites former volunteers.
"There's this kind of core group that meets every year. We haven't seen each other all year, but during the festival, we see each other constantly for three weeks straight," Schnabel said.
Routine concerts throughout the week at noon will allow downtown employees a chance to enjoy cultural music during the lunch hour. However, Houston residents aren't the only people who will attend the event.
"(The festival) attracts a lot of tourists, and they (have) a great impact on the economy," Austin said.
He said a number of important Chinese government officials and businesspeople travel with the performers.
"We hope to make Houston the international capital of the world," Austin said.