SOURCE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Anthony Hesselius
Linda Roth Associates, Inc.
AnthonyH@LindaRothPR.com
Steven E. Shulman
Cultural Tourism DC
SShulman@CulturalTourismDC.org
100+ Embassy Open Houses Highlight Passport DC’s 10th Anniversary
This May Visit the World Without Leaving Washington
Washington, DC (April 19, 2017)—Passport DC celebrates its 10th anniversary in May. The
annual festival commemorating International Cultural Awareness Month in the District of
Columbia runs from May 1 through 31 with a wide array of cultural activities presented at a
record 100+ embassy open houses, multiple street festivals around metropolitan Washington in
conjunction with performing arts organizations throughout the city. On Saturday, May 6,
countries who are not members of the European Union will open their doors during Around the
World Embassy Tour, and the 28 members of the European Union will hold their open houses
during A Shortcut to Europe the following Saturday, May 13.
Steven E. Shulman, executive director of Cultural Tourism DC, the festival’s producing
organization said, “We expect 75 or more embassies to host open houses as part of Passport DC
this year. When embassies open their doors, visitors can expect to encounter the art, music,
crafts, cuisine, geography, and the manufacturing prowess of the participating countries. The
embassies want to express that their countries are attractive places to visit and do business, and in our tenth year, more countries than ever are participating.”
Recruitment for participants began in early 2017, and Brazil, a perennial favorite among
attendees, was the first country to register. The delegation will present a day-long program of music and colorfully costumed dancers hosted at the magnificent Brazilian ambassador’s
residence. The sounds of Botswana will fill the air around Dupont Circle as its embassy presents a showcase of music, live art, and traditional cuisine. Nearby, on Massachusetts Avenue, the embassy of Peru plans to have live alpacas in the yard, native dancers and a taste of the Peruvian drinks and gastronomy as guests are invited to tour the embassy. The celebrations and education continues throughout Washington with embassies convenient to Dupont Circle, Van Ness, Columbia Heights, and elsewhere opening their doors. As embassies confirm participation they are added to the Passport DC website and the festival’s mobile site, which can be viewed at
https://passportdc.oncell.com/en/index.html.
As of April 19, the following embassies are registered to participate in Around the World Embassy Tour:
Afghanistan Chile Kenya Pakistan
African Union Dominican Republic Korea Peru
Albania Gabonese Republic Kosovo Qatar
Angola Ghana Kyrgyz Republic Saudi Arabia
Azerbaijan Guatemala Malawi South Africa
Bangladesh Haiti Malaysia Sri Lanka
Barbados Indonesia Mexico Tunisia
Benin Iraq Nepal Uganda
Bolivia Japan Nicaragua Uruguay
Botswana Kazakhstan Oman Zimbabwe
Brazil
Passport DC Signature Events include:
A Celebration of Global Fashion Wednesday, April 26
Opening Celebration at Macy’s Metro Center, featuring fashion ensembles from
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Botswana, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Kosovo, Malawi,
Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Ukraine.
Flower Mart at National Cathedral Friday and Saturday, May 5-6
Taking place on the National Cathedral grounds, the spring time market brings together
thousands of patrons each year for a colorful, family-friendly celebration of the season. A
full schedule is at https://www.allhallowsguild.org/Flower-Mart/flower-mart.
Around the World Embassy Tour Saturday, May 6
A Shortcut to Europe Saturday, May 13
Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge Wednesday, May 24
Presented by TCMA at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center,
featuring culinary presentations by embassy chefs from 40+ countries. Ticket information
is available at www.eventsdcembassychefchallenge.com.
To inquire about interviews with participating Ambassadors or cultural organizations, or to apply for credentials to attend and cover any of the 2017 Passport DC events, visit
http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/portal/passport-dc1.
ABOUT PASSPORT DC
Cultural Tourism DC produces Passport DC annually. Events DC is the Presenting Sponsor of
Passport DC. Additional sponsors include Macy’s Metro Center, The Melrose Georgetown
Hotel, Daimler, Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, Ronald Reagan Building and
International Trade Center, The Washington Diplomat, United States Chamber of Commerce,
DuPlain Global Enterprises, Washington DC Economic Partnership, and SH International. The
producers and presenters are grateful to the more than 500 volunteers who provide services
throughout the month in support of the educational mission of Passport DC as well as the donors who financially support these endeavors. Cultural Tourism DC, Inc. is located at 700 12th Street, NW #700 Washington, DC 20005. For more information visit www.culturaltourismdc.org
or follow on social media using @DCCulture, #PassportDC, or #EmbassyChef.
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http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/portal/documents/701982/19f6e66a-5443-43da-a5e5-83809baca7c6
When: May 1–31, 2017
Cultural Tourism DC (CTDC) develops and delivers memorable Washington, DC experiences that provide people with opportunities to enjoy and learn about the District of Columbia’s neighborhoods by walking along its DC Neighborhood Heritage Trails and participating in WalkingTown DC, its international diplomatic community via Passport DC and the Around the World Embassy Tour, and its arts and culture during PorchFest DC, a showcase of neighborhoods and local performing artists. Authenticity extends to the Embassy Chef Challenge, an extraordinary tribute to international cuisine. Through these programs, Cultural Tourism DC encourages residents and visitors alike to explore the city, boost the community’s economic prosperity, and become civically engaged.
Passport DC 2017 is a month-long journey around the world highlighting DC’s thriving international diplomatic community and its lively and varied culture. Celebrated annually in May, which is International Cultural Awareness Month in Washington, Passport DC is 31 days of programming by 70 embassies and more than 40 of DC’s very best cultural institutions.
In 2016, more than 235,000 people enjoyed the popular embassy open houses, street festivals, performances, exhibitions, workshops, and more.
Passport DC offers something for everyone as it invites DC area residents and visitors to experience a global journey without leaving the city. Among the events scheduled for May 2017:
* Passport DC 10th Anniversary Reception, April 26
* European Union Culture Month, May 1-31
* Flower Mart at National Cathedral, May 5 and 6
* Around the World Embassy Tour, May 6
* European Union Embassies’ Open House, May 13
* Embassy Chef Challenge Gala, May 24
Here’s What People Say about Passport DC…
“Through the Passport DC program, dozens of embassies transformed from rigid centers of diplomacy to colorful hubs of international culture. …Indeed, the event brought us a sense of community with our neighbors from across the world.” — Charge d’Affaires, Participating Embassy
“Love this event! Amazing. Could not be better. Thanks for the small bites and the neat reptiles.” — Around the World Embassy Tour participant
“I was really impressed with the whole thing! Food, music, costumes, animals and dancing. Everyone was so nice and friendly.” — Around the World Embassy Tour participant
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Passport DC 10th Anniversary Reception
Time: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Location: Macy’s Metro Center, 1201 G Street NW, Washington, DC
Join Cultural Tourism DC and Macy’s as they kick-off the 10th anniversary of Passport DC with a celebration of cultural and contemporary attire from around the world. A Celebration of Global Fashion will feature clothing from 12-15 countries on display in Macy’s windows and selected outposts inside the store. Visit with embassy staff and see arts, crafts and artifacts from across the globe as well as sample the cuisine of celebrity chefs.
Friday and Saturday, May 5-6, 2017
Flower Mart
Since 1939, on the first Friday and Saturday of May, the All Hallows Guild has welcomed visitors to the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral for Flower Mart. Over the past 78 years, this event has grown and now draws thousands of people – who come to shop for plants and gifts, eat fun festival food, enjoy children’s activities, ride our historic carousel, climb to the top of the Cathedral, and take in the beauty of our International Floral Exhibit. Flower Mart 2016 will mark the beginning of the All Hallows Guild’s Centennial Celebration. The Guild was founded in 1916 to protect and celebrate the beautiful gardens and grounds of the Washington National Cathedral. All Flower Mart proceeds benefit the upkeep of this treasured historic landscape.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Around the World Embassy Tour
Time: 10am to 4pm,
Participants travel the world as they experience the food, art, dance, fashion, music, innovations, and manufactured goods from different countries. More than 45 embassies opened their doors to visitors in 2015, allowing guests to pet alpacas, play with robots, learn indigenous dances, and more! Come see the world through the embassies of missions of our global neighbors.
The embassies that will have open houses during Around the World Tour include:
Afghanistan, African Union, Albania, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Gabonese Republic, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (Oman), Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Zimbabwe
(As of April 30, 2017)
There is no charge to participate in Around the World Embassy Tour and tickets are not required. It is recommended that you take a form of government-issued identification with you.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
European Union Open House
Time: 10am to 4pm
Visitors to the European Union (EU) Delegation and the embassies of the EU member states will enjoy the authentic music, dance, food, film, and art of 28 distinctive nations. Participants in the embassy open houses include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
There is no charge to participate in European Union Open House and tickets are not required. It is recommended that you take a form of government-issued identification with you.
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Embassy Chef Challenge
Time: Event begins at 6:30pm
Embassy Chef Challenge is a truly exclusive culinary experience that pays tribute to extraordinary international cuisine and one of Washington’s best kept secrets – the world-class talents of embassy chefs! More than a dozen private chefs from Washington’s embassies will serve small-bite appetizers to flaunt the unique cuisine of their countries in a competition to win the Challenge. A panel of celebrity judges will select a winner, and guests will vote for the people’s choice winner.
http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/portal/passport-dc1
