The cold, windy days have given way to sunshine, flowers, and weather warm enough to finally put away your winter coat. This can only mean one thing: it’s Korean Street Festival time!
On Saturday, May 21st, we are once again inviting scholars, parents, and community members to join us for our third annual celebration of our Korean language and culture program to be held on 134th street between 7th and 8th Avenues in Harlem.
Last year more than 2,500 people joined us for a day full of entertaining performances, delicious food, and fun games and activities. This year we are upping the fun factor by adding more sponsored booth, more performances from our talented scholars, and even more free Korean food to sample.
If you can’t wait until the Saturday to discover all of the fun you will be having, don’t worry, here’s a sneak peak of all of the fun you can expect!
Performances!
From our smallest scholars to our seniors performing with us for the last time, our Democracy Prep arts community will once again bring a wide variety of artistic specialties to the KSF stage while representing over half of the schools in our network.
We will have performances from the cast of our spring productions, Aida and Big River, the tiny pianist in the Harlem Prep Elementary Piano Band will be on hand to tickle the ivories, and the Bronx Prep Jazz Band will add an element of soul to the stage.
Once again, DJ Ryan Sleek is traveling to Harlem from Korea to perform a set in partnership with second-year festival sponsor, Monster Go DJ, makers of a portable DJ console that was recently recognized by award-winning rapper Drake. In between sets DJ Sleek will be in the crowd treating festival goers to an impromptu DJ lesson when he offers a demo of how to work the device. We will also be raffling off one of these machines.
The crowd will also be treated to a special performance by our Korean dance team, which was recently invited by KSF sponsor, CJ E&M to open KCON, a convention of performances, panels, and celebrity performances dedicated to all things K-Pop on June 24.
Cultural Activities and Giveaways!
This year we will have even more cultural booths for you to discover and potential prizes for you to win!
Learn how to jam like a K-Pop star at the booth sponsored by KCON NY. Grab a pair of glow sticks and let scholars from our Korean dance team teach you how to do the latest steps to the music of the artists performing at KCON.
Act out scenes from a Korean drama at the tent from sponsor, On Demand Media (think the Netflix of Korea), and potentially win a membership to the site.
Sponsor JWorld will be giving away stylish backpacks to scholars, and two lucky scholars will be announced as the winners of scholarships from Woori America Bank valued at $4,000.
Food!
Are you ready for some bibimbap? Grab your spot in line early!
The Korean Cuisine Globalization Committee, a third-year sponsor of KSF, will have samples of the popular rice-based dish along with kimchi (fermented cabbage) tteokbokki (chewy rice cake with chili paste), and an assortment of other traditional Korean dishes.
New food sponsor, BonChon Chicken, will offer festival attendees a chance to try a Korean spin on an American classic: fried chicken. The Korean version of this tasty treat incorporates the essence of Korean flavors by using two signature sauces: hot and soy garlic.
Korean drink company, OKF, will be on hand with aloe drinks that are sure to sooth the taste buds after that spicy chicken.
Come out!
Of course, we can’t give away all of the surprises and fun for the day, but join us on Saturday, May 21st on 134th street (between 7th and 8th avenues) in Harlem. Get more info and watch the highlights of the last year’s festival last here.