Himalayan Fair Celebrates 30 Years May 18, 19

By Ingrid Peterson

A Berkeley tradition since 1983, the Himalayan Fair will be celebrating its 30 year anniversary May 18 and 19.

The fair was founded to increase friendship and understanding between the San Francisco Bay area and mountain peoples of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and India. It is an opportunity to experience a traditional Himalayan festival without leaving the Bay Area.

Under the towering oaks and redwood trees, Live Oak Park transforms into a vast Himalayan bazaar with dozens of arts and crafts vendors, traditional music, dance, and entertainment. Food vendors cook up a variety of tantalizing foods, including momos freshly made by the Tibetan and Nepali Communities.

The Himalayan Fair offers a wide variety of entertainment, including local and international groups performing both traditional and modern music and dance with vibrant ethnic costumes, as well as some well-known world music groups like Ancient Future.

Fairgoers will be treated to beautiful classical dance forms of India including Odissi by Jyoti Kala Mandir and Bharata Natyam by local dance schools; rousing Bollywood dance presented by Dance Identity; the ever –popular Bhangra performance and dance lesson by Dholrythms; and lively folk dances and music by local Nepali and Tibetan community groups.

The Hmalayan Fair was founded by Arlene Blum when Lama Kunga of the Ewan Choden Center suggested sharing the culture, arts and crafts of the Himalayas with local Berkeley residents.

Since its inception, the Himalayan Fair has raised over $300,000 from gate donations and raffle sales. The proceeds have supported over 50 small, non-governmental organizations, working to improve education, health and the care of orphans in the region.

Admission is free, but for every $5 donated to the Fair you will receive a chance to win one of our many raffle prizes. Our Grand Prize is a round trip ticket to India. When you purchase four raffle tickets you will get a free tote bag with gifts.