On June 20th, the third annual Multicultural Festival was held in Lake Forest, Southern California, attracting numerous residents of different ethnicities. One of the highlights of the event was the presence of “Team Taiwan,” a group composed of overseas Taiwanese individuals, who set up a Taiwan-themed booth featuring a model of Taipei 101, the Monkey King, the Formosan black bear, and Taiwanese cultural handicrafts to showcase the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Taiwan to the local community.
Xiao Beiru, the director of the Orange County Chinese-American Cultural and Educational Service Center, expressed her delight in participating in the Lake Forest Multicultural Festival again this year. Alongside Team Taiwan, other organizations such as the Taiwanese American Professionals Association (TAP-OC) and the AIN Chinese Language School’s Taiwan Mandarin Learning Center also set up booths to promote Taiwanese culture through community engagement activities.
Xiao Beiru pointed out that visitors could not only admire cultural icons like the Monkey King and Taipei 101 up close but also experience calligraphy, paper cutting art, traditional folk songs, and gain a multifaceted understanding of the unique cultural characteristics and hospitality of Taiwan. She expressed gratitude to all overseas compatriot friends who participated in the event, actively helping more residents of Southern California to get to know Taiwan.
During the festival, Team Taiwan organized a 30-minute stage performance, starting with a lively dance performance of “Standing on a High Hill” by seven dancers that energized the atmosphere. Following that, the female champion of the Southern California College Cup singing competition, Tang Guangrong, sang nostalgic melodies like “Dark Sky” and “Rainy April,” resonating with many Taiwanese attendees.
Subsequently, Zhang Huiling and Hong Wendong took on the personas of the Monkey King from Taiwanese folklore and delivered an enthusiastic performance of “Red Is Not Yielding in Nalu Bay,” showcasing the unique vitality of Taiwanese traditional culture combined with creative elements in a cheerful melody, earning thunderous applause from the audience.
Zhang Huiling, the overall commander of Team Taiwan, mentioned that the team had participated in the Lake Forest American Independence Day parade twice and had won the Best Parade Creative Award for two consecutive years. This year, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the team plans to participate in the Independence Day parade with a Taipei 101 model reaching up to 10 feet high as the centerpiece, complemented by the Monkey King, the Formosan black bear, and the high-mountain green girl, among other Taiwanese distinctive elements, aiming to stand out among nearly a hundred participating groups and leave a lasting impression of Taiwan on more American residents.
Lake Forest, located on the south side of Irvine, has a population of approximately 86,000, with young families being the predominant resident demographic. The population comprises roughly 50% white, 30% Hispanic, and 20% Asian descent. Through events like the Multicultural Festival, the Taiwanese overseas community not only shares the distinctive features of Taiwanese culture but also deepens connections and engagement with the local mainstream community, enhancing the visibility and influence of Taiwan in the Southern California community.