Experience the Largest Nowruz Celebration in the US-March 20
WELCOME BACK!
FARHANG FOUNDATION HOLDS LARGEST FREE IRANIAN NEW YEAR, NOWRUZ, CELEBRATION IN THE U.S. AT UCLA ON SUNDAY, MARCH 20
Experience a colorful, cultural day of music, dance, food and children’s activities
Sunday, March 20, 12 PM - 5 PM
UCLA’s Dickson Court North and South
The Farhang Foundation Nowruz Celebrations is a free to all, public, daylong festival located at UCLA, including a large-scale Haft Sîn display (a symbolic and traditional Iranian table-scape celebrating the arrival of spring and the Vernal Equinox), stilt walkers, traditional dance performances, an Iranian Tea House, children’s activities, puppet shows, and authentic musical performances.
Los Angeles, February 17, 2022 - A horn sounds, a twirl of colorful silk waves by, kisses on the cheek are exchanged by family members, and the Iranian New Year has arrived! Farhang Foundation’s 13th annual celebration of Nowruz (the Iranian New Year Celebration) is back.
Nowruz is the most colorful and lively Iranian event of the year, and Farhang Foundation’s festival—the largest celebration of its kind in the country—welcomes spring with an exciting program for all ages including music, dance, food, exhibits and children’s activities.
Visitors can take part in the festival exploring Iranian culture, one of the oldest in the world, while also embracing the first day of spring—that universal time of renewal and rebirth.
Celebrated on the vernal equinox in Iran, Afghanistan, China, the U.S., India, Tajikistan, Turkey, and beyond, Nowruz (“new day”), is welcomed with vibrant displays of culture by more than 75 million people around the world. The event is nonreligious and universal to all by celebrating the arrival of spring.
All outdoor activities are free and open to the public, and will take place at UCLA’s Dickson Court, which is adjacent to Royce Hall from 12 to 5 pm.
“After a long pandemic-imposed two-year hiatus away from our beloved Nowruz Celebrations, nothing gives us more pleasure than once again welcoming our thousands of guests back to Nowruz at UCLA,” says Alireza Ardekani, Executive Director of Farhang Foundation. “Nowruz is Farhang’s largest annual celebration and one of the most cherished and important annual events on the Iranian calendar. We are delighted to once again work with all the incredible artists, performers, collaborators, and most importantly our volunteers to bring this free and joyous celebration back to UCLA and Los Angeles.”
2022 Nowruz Banner Winning Design by Najva Erfani
The day’s lively program runs from noon to 5 p.m.
Here is the lineup:
A variety of programming will repeat throughout the day outdoors in UCLA's Dickson Court North and South.
Arezoo Koochakan's L.A. Daf Ensemble
Daf is a large Iranian frame drum used in popular and classical Iranian music. Artistic Director, Arezoo Koochakan leads this incredible ensemble in traditional dress as they perform regional folk songs from throughout Iran.
Negar Estakhr & Nargol Rashidian: Puppet Show
Actress, designer and puppeteer Negar Estakhr is best known for working on Kolah Ghermezi, Iran’s equivalent of Sesame Street. She and her talented daughter Nargol Rashidian will delight children and adults alike with their engaging puppetry.
Ava Choir
The Ava Choir is the first and only Iranian choir in Los Angeles, under the direction of the creative young composer, conductor, and vocalist Edris Foroughi, who oversees the enthusiastic Iranian group. The choir was formed in 2018 by Foroughi, and its mission is to promote Iranian culture, music, and poetry through performances of an eclectic mix of Iranian music.
Melieka Fathi Dance Company
Melieka Fathi is a choreographer, instructor, performer of Classical Iranian dances and the founder and artistic director of the Melieka Fathi Dance Company. She has worked with world-renowned artists and organizations in an effort to preserve and expand upon Iranian arts within diaspora communities. The company’s unique style is defined as a blend of historic roots and diasporic inspirations.
Grand Haft Sîn Display
In the center of Dickson Court, all can enjoy a Haft Sîn display. The stunning exhibit features an eye-catching centerpiece of Nowruz displayed in Iranian households to ring in the New Year. Families gather around a detailed table, laden with items that represent fertility, evolution, rebirth, prosperity, love, health and beauty.
Traditional Musicians and Dancers
Throughout the campus area, dancers from Robyn Friend's Firuze Dance Company dressed in Iranian folk costumes and musicians playing traditional instruments will be performing, bringing a happy sound and blur of colorful excitement to the proceedings.
DJ Arin
Throughout the day, DJ Arin spins the best in popular Iranian music from various decades, genres and tempos
Stilt Walkers
Various Persian mythological and Nowruz characters will be walking around the grounds on stilts, greeting guests.
Iranian Tea House
Festival goers will experience a Persian style decorated tent. Inside the tent, visitors may purchase tea and Iranian sweets and snacks to welcome the New Year.
Per UCLA's COVID-19 safety policy, all attendees ages five and up will be required to show proof of *full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 *test result. Children under five are exempt from pre-entry requirements.
*Fully vaccinated means it has been 2 weeks after receiving the second dose in a 2-dose series (Moderna and Pfizer) or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine (J&J).
*Those who do not have evidence of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are required to present proof of a negative antigen test within 1 day or PCR test within 2 days.
Testing Deadline:
Proof of Vaccine deadline - March 6
PCR Test - March 18
Antigen Rapid Test - March 19
For more information on the 13th Annual Celebration of Nowruz at UCLA, please visit us at Farhang.org/NowruzLA
