pearland-ifestOpa! The 3rd annual Pearland International Festival is celebrating the arts and culture of the Mediterranean with a full day of music, food, wine, belly dancing, art and special events, including Pearland’s first olive pit spitting contest. To keep the kids entertained, the H-E-B sponsored Kids Zone will have free face painting, rides, games and crafts throughout the day. Join the fun at Pearland iFest Saturday, September 19, from 11 am to 9 pm at Pearland’s Independence Park, 3919 Liberty Drive in Pearland.  Make a weekend of it and stay a day or two with special hotel rates just for the Pearland International Festival.

The Pearland International Festival is an annual event of Pearland Foundation for the Performing and Visual Arts (PFPVA). All proceeds from the festival will benefit Performance and Visual Arts Scholarships.

Not to be missed this year is the Olive Pit Spitting Contest at 3 pm. A Mediterranean tradition, spitting olive pits is popular at olive festivals across the globe including in China, Italy, Belgium, Czech Republic and now Texas. The sport is played by both men and women and there are plenty of pit spitting rules. According to the International Federation of Pit Spitting (IFOPS), the world record is an amazing 70 feet. “We anticipate some champion level pit spitting,” said Joshua Hari with PFPVA, “We know Texans will be able to pit spit with the best of them.”

In addition to H-E-B’s Kids Zone, the Houston Rockets will host basketball challenges and Home Depot will teach wood crafts. Sure to be a big hit with kids of all ages is the Safari Event which gives kids the opportunity to walk or float on water in an air tight water hamster ball.

Pearland-iFest-Logo-sm1-300x295The festival mood begins with live music from The Fuse, Houston’s variety cover band; the Galaxy Band recipient of the Caribbean Achievement Award 2014 – Best Live Band in Houston, who will entertain with a wide range of music; and XPRYNZ a five piece cover band set to play a variety of R&B, Blues and Rock. The Best Mariachi Band in Houston “Mariachi Calmecac” is returning to iFest after charming crowds last year.

Festival goers will not only have a choice of Mediterranean specialties, but a full array of international and American foods and snacks.

On the festival menu is Niko Niko’s, H-E-B Sushiya, Tasti Delight offering Jamaican dishes, Mirepoix eggrolls, Maine-ly Sandwiches, Angie Bees Deep South Hot Spot and a Pearland favorite, Stadia Sports Grill. Other food vendors will offer festival favorites from corn dogs and fajita nachos to funnel cakes and barbecue to charbroiled hamburgers. If fried food is a favorite festival treat, you won’t want to miss Fry Daddy Concessions and the Happy Hour Food Truck.

Dancing is where the Mediterranean beat picks up steam. Festival goers will see several styles of dancing by Houston International Folkdancers, The Modern Gypsy Project, and Soraya & la Zambra Belly Dance. Sure to get the crowds moving will be the Gazelle Turkish Folk Dance Group, Cuadro La Tempestad Flamenco, Grupo Folklorico Raices de Panama, Lao American Association, Silambam Houston, Indian Classical Dance – Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Bolivian folk dancing by Kalpana Subbarao and the Bolivian Folk Dance Group.

Guests will enjoy wines from around the globe and local wineries will be on hand to offer samples paired with bites from local restaurants in the VIP tent. The VIP tent is sponsored by the Ivy District, Niko Niko’s, Stadia Sports Grill, H-E-B Sushiya and the Reflection Bay Event Center at Shadow Creek. The Pearland Arts League will display work by local artists. The VIP Wine Tasting Tent is a separate $40 admission for adults 21 and over.

Admission is $10 per person children 12 years and under are free. Free admission for active military with current ID. To see the performance schedule and to buy tickets visit pearlandifest.org.

Event parking and shuttle service is free at Pearland High School, First Baptist Church and the Country Club Strip Center. Paid parking is available at Golden Rule & Pearland Independence Park.

Pearland International Festival Sponsors include H-E-B, Techstar, Allied Fire Protection, Pearland Convention and Visitors Bureau, Texas First Bank, KVRN Radio Network, Michelob Ultra, Neighbor Emergency Center, The Ivy District, Naomi’ House, The Law Office of Mark Smith, PLLC and Telemundo Houston. Vendor Booth & Sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information about the Pearland International Festival, visit www.PearlandiFest.org or [email protected]. Call or Text Joshua Hari at 832-496-2583.

Festival goers interested in making a weekend of it can take advantage of special, Pearland hotel rates:

Special Hotel Rates:

2806 Miller Ranch Rd. Pearland, TX 77584
713-340-1705
Hotel Contact: Samantha or Manny
Group Code: SPECIAL
Room Rate: $89.00 plus tax
Dates Available: September 19-21, 2015
Reservation Cut-off Date: September 19, 2015

Courtyard-by-MarriottPearland-66x66Courtyard Houston Pearland
11200 Broadway St., Ste 2000, Pearland, TX 77584
1-800-321-2211 or 713-413-0500
Hotel Contact: Reservations or Courtyard Front Desk Agent
Group Code: Book your group rate for Pearland International Festival 2015
Room Rate: $99
Dates Available: September 18-19, 2015
Reservation Cut-off Date: August, 28, 2015
Description: Standard room type

HiltonGardenInnPearland-66x66Hilton Garden Inn Pearland
12101 Shadow Creek Parkway, Pearland TX 77584
281-617-5880
[email protected]
Hotel Contact: Andrea Lynn
Group Code: Ask for “Pearland International Festival” rate
Room Rate: $99 for a King or Double
Dates Available: September 18-19, 2015
Reservation Cut-off Date: September 14, 2015
Description: Welcome to the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Pearland, Texas – we’re just minutes from downtown Houston! You will enjoy the quiet suburban area of Pearland while also taking in the excitement of Pearland Town Center. A perfect area for dining, shopping and relaxing. Bring the family and enjoy our beautiful hotel pool.
Restrictions: Not applicable with any other offers.

Sleep-InnPearland-66x66Sleep Inn & Suites Pearland – South
1908 Country Place Pkwy, Pearland TX 77584
832-230-3000
[email protected]
Hotel Contact: Neil Bhakta
Group Code: CVB15
Room Rate: $94
Dates Available: September 18-20, 2015
Reservation Cut-off Date: September 18, 2015
Description: Complimentary full American breakfast. Set rate for all room types (depending on availability, excluding Jacuzzi suites)
Restrictions: Special rate does not include Jacuzzi suites.

LaQuintaPearland-66x66La Quinta Inn & Suites
9002 Broadway, Pearland TX 77584
281-412-5454
[email protected]
Hotel Contact: Myrah Perry
Group Code: Call hotel directly to book, mention “International Festival Room Rate”
Rate: $93.00 plus tax for a standard king or double queen
Dates Available: September 17-21, 2015
Reservation Cut-off Date: September 16, 2015

Details:

When:  Saturday, September 19, 2015, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where:  Independence Park, 3519 Liberty Drive, 77581
Tickets:  $10 General Admission, $40 VIP Admission
Free admission for active Military with ID, Children 12 and Under
eventbrite.com
Performance Schedule: ifestoftexas.org