The Johnson County Library will host an Asian Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Blue Valley Library, 9000 W. 151st St., Overland Park, Kan. in conjunction with Asian Heritage Month in May.

A wide range of activities will provide a glimpse of Asian culture through music, dancing, art, crafts, and food from several different Asian countries. This will be a fun, exciting day for the whole family. Join us for any part of the day. No registration necessary.

The schedule of events is:

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Gallery Area
Ki Daiko - Olathe School District Japanese Taiko Drumming Group
Falun Dafa - Mid-USA Falun Dafa – gentle meditative exercises
Tae Kwon Do Marital Arts Demonstration - Tae Kwon Do Academy of Overland Park

11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Meeting Room
Asian Food Sampling

11:30 to 2:30 p.m. - Storytime Room
For Teens - Mehndi Tattoos and Asian Games

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Children’s Area
Children Crafts
Japanese Name Writing & Costumes

2-4 p.m. - Gallery Area
Thai Folk Dance - The Thai Information Center
Aboriginals Songs and Dances - The Taiwanese Association of Greater Kansas City
Indian Classical Music and Dance - Natanan Indian Dance Group
Dances Native to the Republic of China - HK Chinese Folk Dance Group

While at the Asian Heritage Festival participants may view Art on display in the Gallery from Falun Dafa and reproductions from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's Taj Mahal: The Beauty is in the Details.

For more information and photos of the participating groups, visit www.jocolibrary.org/asianfest. The Asian Heritage Festival events are free and open to the public. For more information call (913) 495-3850. Interpretive services and other accommodations for those with special needs are available by contacting Library staff at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled Library program.