The 24th Irvine Global Village Festival was held grandly at the Great Park on October 11th, showcasing cultures and traditions brought by people of various ethnicities, along with captivating art performances, children’s activities, a market, and a variety of food options.
Mayor Larry Agland expressed gratitude to all participants: “We have gathered over fifty different cultures to celebrate unity, harmony, and to share the customs from around the world.” Officials from various countries residing in Los Angeles were in attendance including Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, Switzerland, Poland, Turkey, Iraq, and Azerbaijan.
Chairman of the Great Park and District 4 Councilmember Mike Carroll stated, “Irvine is the second largest city in Orange County and the sixth largest city in California, with a population of 318,000. It has been named one of the safest cities in America for twenty consecutive years and is also one of the most diverse communities in the country.” This year featured 116 booths, around 30 food vendors, and 24 sponsors such as Troutman Amin, LLP, Amazon Fresh, and Irvine Valley College.
The Great Park spans 1,347 acres, making it larger than both Golden Gate Park and even Central Park in New York, elevating it into one of the greatest municipal parks in America. Carroll mentioned, “Our aviation museum will break ground later this month, and we hope to see you there.” A volunteer at the museum stated, “Funds have been raised, and we are aiming for an opening in 2027, featuring a Naval Aviation Museum with approximately 40 aircraft.”
Irvine was founded with the establishment of the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where Irvine Company donated land and oversaw the comprehensive planning. Carroll highlighted educational services including UCI, Concordia University, and Irvine Unified School District. He remarked, “I like what the President said about being a ‘City on a Hill,’ where immigrants from all over the world speak different languages, embodying a national model, and cherishing the local high-quality living.”
UCI Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Hal Stern stated, “UCI began in October 1965, making it 60 years old. It’s incredible to think that 60 years ago, there was no Great Park, no hot air balloon, not many people, no city; just rolling hills and cows… Our latest development is a medical complex; the emergency hospital with 144 beds for 24-hour care is set to open in December.”
“Our UCI campus and medical facilities employ over 34,000 people, making us the second largest employer in Orange County, just slightly smaller than Disneyland, yet a happy place.” Stern welcomed visitors to explore the campus, attend performances, or join continuing education courses to enhance professional skills or develop new careers.
Community researcher Ross Pelster introduced, “We help Irvine Company understand the residents’ preferences for the park: Do they want a sports park on donated land? Or prioritize natural landscapes? Or do they prefer no specific additions to the park.”
Public Land Trust Vice President Howard Frumkin previously mentioned the high ratings Irvine receives for total park area and accessibility, boasting the highest number of parks, where even those too busy to partake in park activities can still benefit from nature and social interactions. In 2024, Irvine ranked first in California and fourth in the U.S. for parks for the second consecutive year; the city currently boasts 302 parks, with over 90% of residents able to reach a community park within a 10-minute walk.
At this year’s Irvine Global Village Festival, Falun Dafa practitioners set up a “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Art Exhibition” area and introduced and demonstrated five sets of exercises on stage, offering soothing and peaceful music for amidst the lively atmosphere.
The stage host explained, “Falun Dafa enhances self-improvement through slow-moving exercises and meditation, providing spiritual growth through rigorous practice, encouraging practitioners to let go of unhealthy attachments and harmonize their lives with the essence of the universe – Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.”
“Practitioners of Falun Dafa often experience life-changing benefits, with many reporting significant improvements in health, increased vitality, clearer thinking, and reduced stress – an inspiring demonstration for everyone.”
The South Coast Weavers and Spinners Guild had a booth inside an airplane hangar, attracting many residents who tried their hands on five traditional weaving machines to create belts, scarves, and blankets, with both women and men giving it a try.
Donna explained that they have two, four, and eight-axle weaving machines, with the eight-axle allowing the use of different colored threads for intricate patterns. “Completing a simple belt takes about 2 hours; I’m still a beginner, only started after retiring,” she said. They measure each row to ensure consistent width.
Alyssa shared, “I knew about the weaving guild for decades, but only started practicing after retirement when I found the time.” “We hold classes every second Monday morning at the Irvine Yards Community Park Art Center. Anyone interested can join.”
There were numerous booths to explore, including games, sports, and crafts for the kids to enjoy. This year featured three stages: Palm Courtyard Stage, Children’s Stage, and Great Park Stage, presenting a variety of ethnic art performances. Irvine is rich in educational resources, with various educational institutions, organizations attracting crowds in the children’s exhibition area.
Two young Chinese individuals remotely controlled a “robot dog,” capturing the interest of both adults and children, as the robot dog executed various movements like walking forwards, backwards, sideways, and even somersaults. Daren and his colleague, both UCLA graduates, work for HawkRobo in Irvine, focusing on developing control systems for robots for security monitoring, law enforcement, manufacturing, logistics, and park patrols.
The Irvine Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) booth was located near a firetruck, where people could learn about the team’s training programs, how to prepare emergency kits, and the emergency evacuation routes in their community.