Coming up tomorrow, the Marco Polo Festival is back in Chinatown/Little Italy for a 7th year. Here are details from the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council:
At 11:00 a.m., witness the breathtaking procession of large-scale Marco Polo and Kublai Khan marionettes and the magnificent hand-painted 50 foot long Silk Road banner parade through the streets of Chinatown & Little Italy by local youth, musicians and more! This year’s procession is choreographed by director and artist, Yara Travieso.
The pageant procession ends at the Grand Street Stage where a unique combination of music and cultural performances takes place. Programming includes traditional Chinese & Italian Opera, folk dances, contemporary Chinese & Italian instrumental performances and more!
For the first time in the festival’s history, photographer, author and explorer, Denis Belliveau, will host a pop-up Silk Road Museum featuring artifacts collected by Denis during his Emmy ® nominated, acclaimed documentary film, “In The Footsteps of Marco Polo”. Artifacts will be on display in a one-of-a-kind Yurt tent, and will include antique colorful gowns from Central Asia and China, silkworm cocoons and an Afghan horse crop quirt given to Denis by the Shah of the Wakhan Corridor, its well-worn handle made of Marco Polo sheep bone.
Procession begins at 11:00 a.m. in front of 62 Mott Street (between Canal and Bayard). Procession can best be viewed on Mulberry Street (from Bayard Street to Grand Street). Performances begin at noon at the Grand Street Stage between Mott & Mulberry Streets. Click here for a detailed map of the procession route and festival.
