Thousands of Armenian Americans celebrated the 21st anniversary of Armenia’s independence during a festival at Verdugo Park on Sunday that featured dancing, music and, of course, food, Glendale News-Press reports.
The 14th Annual Armenian Independence Day Festival has gained in popularity over the years, attracting more than 5,000 people throughout the daylong event.
The festival was established to celebrateArmenia’s independence from the formerSoviet Unionin 1991.
Magda Vosgueritchian, marketing director for People Helping People — which had one of many booths at the festival — saidArmenia’s independence “is very important to us.”
“It’s good to be on your own. It’s good to be an independent country,” she said.
But the festival has also become a way for Armenian Americans to reconnect with their culture, or introduce it to others, with its food and information vendors and cultural performances.
“Every year we come here and we enjoy it and love it because all Armenians are here,” said Pam Boghozian, ofGlendale. “We have lots of fun with the music and all the dancing and group events.”
