Organization founder Pearl Fu takes final bow
by S. Rotan Hale
Roanoke’s Local Colors Festival was, as in the past, a blaze of pomp and circumstance that celebrated the area’s multicultural diversity in grand fashion. The event, held Saturday, May 16 in Elwood Park now in its 25 year opened with a most fitting salute to Pearl Fu.
Recognized as Roanoke’s ambassador of goodwill and diversity, the name Pearl Fu and Local Colors are synonymous. Nonetheless as all things change, Fu, as founder, has stepped down as head of the organization and its flagship affair–ending her 25-year reign due to her declining health.
“It is not because of me that Local Colors is successful. It’s because of all of you from every culture and every background and every walk of life…for with out you all this would never have happened,” she said sitting regally as though on a throne. “So don’t just give me the honor applaud for your selves for making this project a success in the wonderful Star City of Roanoke,” she added.
During her graceful address, Fu introduced and spoke highly of Beth Lutjen the organizations new executive director. With a vote of confidence, Fu referred to Lutjen as a “capable and wonderful new director that will do marvels with this program.”
The festival is a multicultural exhibition that has grown incredibly over the years. Pasts gatherings have had as many as 100 plus countries represented and certain years have reported attendance of over 25,000 visitors.
As a tribute to Fu’s retirement and the festival’s 25th anniversary, organizers chose this year to honor China, Kenya, Russia and South Korea, the 4 nations that were the only participants at the first celebration in 1990.
During a special salute to Pearl Fu, Virginia’s Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte, who is no stranger to immigration law said, “It took Pearl Fu to bring all of the people who come here (as immigrants) from all over the world to gather together not just once a year but many times a year to celebrate all of our histories… our cultures and backgrounds that we bring to make Roanoke the wonderful melting pot that it is.”
With that, the congressman read a well-structured proclamation he pinned and presented to Fu from The U.S. House of Representatives. The document’s illustrious verbiage brilliantly outlined the universal awareness and subsequent impact of the multicultural achievements made by Local Colors under the tireless leadership of Pearl Fu.
The picture-perfect weather guaranteed a huge crowd this year as folks packed the courtyard scrambling for position at the various vendors. There’s no question as to why people from all over are drawn to this extremely popular festival whether by the various delights from food venders representing a multitude of international cuisines or the Parade of Nations that is a spectacle in itself.
There is simply nothing in the area quite like the intrigue and pageantry of the Local Colors Festival that is truly an extraordinary and vibrant display of cultural diversity at its finest.
For more information on the festival, this dynamic organization and all of its services including educational opportunities visit the Local Colors website.
