The Houston International Festival celebrated its 41st year with a tribute to Asia. This two-week experience was jam-packed with family fun and diverse entertainment. The Houston International festival is one of the leading presenters of world music anywhere on the planet.
The festival, known as “The Silk Road Journey Across Asia” commanded some 20 acres of downtown Houston, turning its streets into the route of Marco Polo with emphasis on China, India and other cultures of the Silk Road. Inside the festival were seven international entertainment-themed zones. Each zone paid homage to a specific culture, including China, India, Caribbean, Africa, Latin and Creole, and were sponsored by Bud Light, The Houston Chronicle, H-E-B and Chevron to name a few.
More than 500 artists from around the world came out to sell their handmade arts, crafts, accessories and clothing, while more than 50 Houston restaurants and caterers offered their samples of international cuisine. Among the great smell of exotic foods and striking arts and crafts were the melodic tunes of featured artists Jimmy Vaughn, J. Paul Jr. and the Zydeco Nubreeds, Voodoo Brass Band, Lucinda Williams and the Rootz Underground, along with a host of other international artists and local bands. If you missed this year’s “Journey Across Asia Festival,” just wait till you discover what next year’s theme will be.
