Minneapolis Sister Cities Day

Minneapolis will celebrate over 40 years of participating in the sister city program.  To celebrate they are hosting a free ice cream social and gathering at the Nicollet Island Pavilion. The Sister Cities Day event will take place from 1-5pm on July 21st – rain or shine.

Since the Minneapolis Sister Cities program was established in 1961 when the first Sister City agreement between Minneapolis and Santiago, Chile, was signed, additional cities city include Winnipeg, Canada; Santiago, Chile; Harbin, China; Kuopio, Finland; Tours, France; Najaf, Iraq; Ibaraki City, Japan; Eldoret, Kenya; Cuernavaca, Mexico; Novosibirsk, Russia; Bosaso, Somalia; and Uppsala, Sweden.

Some of the activities include for Minneapolis Sister Cities Day include:

• Music
• Speakers
• Performances
• Dancers
• Children’s Activities
• Complimentary make-your-own sundaes

Included in the musical groups this year are:

• Gilgamesh, representing Najaf, Iraq. Dancers will perform Chobi dancing, a modern circle dance. This dance is usually reserved for weddings. However, this year, it will help us celebrate the 10th anniversary with our sister city in Iraq.
• Songs of Hope, a youth performing arts summer camp representing a dozen countries from around the world. Children from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the U.S. come together for six weeks of singing and performances. Their focus is spreading cultural unity wherever they go.
• Harisen Daiko, Minnesota taiko drumming group representing Ibaraki City, Japan. Taiko drumming is an ancient Japanese form of percussion utilizing large drums and has been used for many purposes, including communication, military action, theatrical accompaniment and religious ceremonies.
• Annelise Carlson and Liang Sorman, representing Harbin, China. These musicians will showcase traditional Chinese music playing instruments such as the guzheng, yangqin and the hulusi. The hulusi’s origins can be traced back more than 2,000 years to the pre-Qin period.
• Mexico Lindo, representing Cuernavaca, Mexico. Performers will showcase Ballet Folklorico, which is a mix of a traditional Mexican folk dance with ballet characteristics. Engaging and energetic, adults to the very young perform with precise choreography representing the unique cultures of Mexico.

You can find more information as well as the full schedule here on the event website.