Korean Festival Returns to Suwanee

in Suwanee is no stranger to festivals, but the changing nature of the city itself will be on display this Saturday and Sunday.

The Third Annual Korean Festival will take place at the city's signature park/events area. Most of the events and vendors will be Korean, which shows the growing influence of that nationality in Suwanee.

Asians now make up 18 percent of Suwanee's population of 15,300 (per the 2010 U.S. Census), by far the second largest ethic group. Since the Korean festival has drawn well in previous years, it's back for another run.

Kevin Kim of Atlanta Radio Korea (AM 1040), one of the sponsors, notes that last year's event was held in September, so organizers delayed it this year in hopes of cooler weather. About 18,000 people attended on Day One last year, but only 5,000 on the second day due to rain. Some 20,000 attended the first event in 2009.

The Korean-American Association in Atlanta is the primary organizer, and the Consul General of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) is among the sponsors, Kim said.

Of course, expect plenty of Korean food and cultural items. There will be a Kimchi contest and plenty of Bi Bim Bop. Kim said that there also will be a huge food bowl in the park that will contain enough food for 500 people.

The Town Center stage also will have performers with Korean flavor, as well as a martial arts team.

There also will be dance contests featuring hip-hop and break dancing. About 30 percent of the vendors will be non-Korean, Kim said.