Welcome to Korean-American Association of New Jersey

The Korean-American Association of New Jersey is proud to present their Annual Korean-American Thanksgiving Festival of New Jersey.

The Festival was first launched in September of 2002 to celebrate the traditional Korean holiday of Chusok, which is the equivalent of the American holiday of Thanksgiving.

The Festival was also created to promote more interaction between the Korean-American community and with the community at large and to showcase and share the culture and heritage that is Korean.

The Festival is comprised of shows and programs that exhibit traditional Korean culture. There are also many performances by professional dancers and singers that represent Korean culture, past and present.

Korean cuisine and other culturally related products are sold and displayed by the many vendors that support the Festival.

The first Festival that was held at Overpeck Park in Palisades Park, New Jersey was a huge success with an approximate attendance of 25,000 spectators as estimated by the Bergen County Police Department.

Because of the overwhelming turnout the 2nd Annual Festival was held at the larger Overpeck Park located in Leonia, New Jersey. This event was an even greater success with an estimated crowd of 60,000 attendees as reported by The Korea Times newspaper.

For our 3rd Annual Festival, to accommodate the ever growing number of attendees and vendors, the Festival became a two day weekend event on September 25th-26th, 2004. This Festival had an estimated attendance of over 100,000 attendees as reported by the Bergen Record newspaper over the course of the two day event and drew spectators from all over the tri-state area.

The Korean-American Association of New Jersey is now proud to present our 5th Annual Korean-American Thanksgiving Festival of New Jersey. This year the Festival will again be a two-day event on September 30th and October 1st at Overpeck Park in Leonia, New Jersey.

We invite you to be a part of this successful campaign and know that with your support, we will break down racial barriers and intolerance while promoting cultural understanding and awareness.

Chusok is the Korean traditional holiday of Thanksgiving, which is normally celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the year. Chusok, which literally translates into “the harvest moon”, is also known as Hangawi in the pure Korean language.

While the holiday marks the beginning of harvest, Chusok is also a family oriented event that honors one’s ancestors with traditional rituals and customs. Koreans would traditionally utilize this day to visit their ancestral graves and to symbolically offer food from the first harvest to their deceased ancestors.

The harvest crops are considered a blessing from the ancestors and Chusok offers a unique opportunity to be thankful for such blessings.

Chusok also plays an important role in reinforcing the Korean concept of “hometown”. The “hometown” is not only a place where one is born or raised; it is also the place where the collective body and spirit of one’s ancestors resides.

An individual that leaves their “hometown” is also considered to be leaving their ancestors and holidays such as Chusok and also New Year’s Day is utilized for individuals to reunite with their relatives, both the living and the departed.

Therefore, the Festival is not just a celebration of harvest but an event that preserves cultural values, such as the importance of the family. This event also promotes many other time honored traditions and customs that are uniquely Korean.

The Korean American Association of New Jersey (the “KAANJ”) is a non-profit, non-partisan, 501(c)3 organization and is the largest and most active Korean American community development organization in the State of New Jersey. The focus and primary mission of the Association is the advancement and empowerment of the Korean American community in the state of New Jersey.

We accomplish this by holding events and functions throughout the year that promote more interaction of the Korean-American community with the community at large. We also accomplish our mission by encouraging members of our community to take a more proactive role in local and state affairs. We also educate and inform our community members of different issues that are relevant to our community through programs and workshops that we conduct at our office.

Governor’s Flag-Raising Ceremony
New Jersey State Governor will deliver the welcome address and will participate in a flag raising ceremony to mark the event.

Soccer Exhibition
With the Cooperation of The New Jersey Korean-American Soccer Association, 30 soccer teams compete in the exhibition.

Open Concert ‘Fall Night’
Fall Night is a classical music and traditional Korean music Concert open to all attendees of the Festival.

‘COOKIN’ performance
This is a celebrated performance of wonderful rhythms and beats that dramatize customary Korean percussion in a strikingly comedic stage show. The show integrates uniquely Korean traditional tempos with a western performance style.

Dog Show
Everyone who has a dog could participate in this event. Wining contestants will be awarded (Sponsored by Mamas & Papas pet store).

Korean Traditional Wedding Ceremony
This is an actual traditional Korean wedding ceremony performed on the main stage with the participation of a newly wed couple.

Tae Kwon Do Exhibition
Tae Kwon Do is a Korean form of martial arts and is the world’s largest practiced martial art. Professional participants will perform on the stage.

Korean Traditional Folk Dance Exhibitions
Traditional Korean dance troupes will showcase the beauty and grace of Korean folk dance.

Poongmulpae
Poongmul is a grand outdoor performance of Korean folk music in which dances, songs, and dramas are intermingled and displayed..

Je -gi-cha-gi (Shuttlecock Kicking)
Je-gi-cha-gi (shuttlecock kicking) is a very popular traditional Korean game that is similar to playing “hackysack”..

Children’s Art Contest
Childrens’ Art contest will take place with 500 participants.
(Sponsored by the Korean Presbyterian Church of New Jersey.)

Amateur Youth Singing Competition
Young aspiring singers will compete and the best 20 will perform at the event after preliminary trials. The top three singers will be awarded prizes.

Closing Ceremony / Fireworks Presentation with Orchestral Performance
In 2006, the Association will close the Festivities with our first Fireworks presentation accompanied by a synchronized performance by a live Orchestra.

Saturday
11:00 AM	Festival Opens
11:00 AM ~ 12:00 PM	Opening Ceremony New Jersey Governor’s Welcome Address -Recognition of Dignitaries/Special Guests -Congratulatory Speeches -Presentation of Proclamations
12 PM ~ 5:30 PM	Scheduled Programming & Exhibitions
6:00 PM ~ 10:00 PM	Open Concert, ‘Fall Night’
Sunday
11:00 AM ~ 4:00 PM	Scheduled Programming & Exhibitions
4:00 PM ~ 6:00 PM	Performances by top Korean Singers and Celebrities
6:00 PM	Closing Ceremony Fireworks Presentation with Orchestral Performance

NJ Governor Jon Corzine
US Senator Frank Lautenberg
US Senator Bob Menendez
US Congressman Steve Rothman
US Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.
US Congressman Scott Garrett
Korean Consul General: Mr. Bong-Joo Moon
State Senator Paul Sarlo(NJ Legislative District 36)
State Senator Loretta Weinberg (NJ Legislative District 37)
State Senator Joseph Coniglio (NJ Legislative District 38)
Assemblyman Paul A. Sarlo (NJ Legislative District 36)
Assemblywomen Valerie Huttle (NJ Legislative District 37)
Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson (NJ Legislative District 37)
Assemblyman Robert M. Gordon (NJ Legislative District 38)
Assemblywoman Dr. Joan Voss (NJ Legislative District 38)
Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula (NJ Legislative District 17)
Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney
Freeholder Chairwoman Bernadette McPherson
Freeholder James Carroll
Freeholder David L. Ganz
Freeholder Elizabeth Randall
Freeholder Tomas J. Padilla
Freeholder Elizabeth Calabrese
Mayor Frank DeBari of New Milford
Mayor Jack Alter and Council Members of Fort Lee
Mayor James Rotundo and Council Members of Palisades Park
Mayor Lawrence Cherchi and Council Members of Leonia
Mayor Michael Wildes and Council Members of Englewood
Mayor William Roseman and Council Members of Carlstadt
Mayor Joseph Parisi and Council Members of Englewood Cleffs
President of North Jersey Media Group/The Record: Mr. Jonathan H. Markey
President of The Korea Times, Joongang USA, and The Media Korea (MK)
President of The Korean-American Association of Greater New York

Community Services	Goal	Location	Date	Audience
Citizenship Drive	Promote, educate and assist Korean immigrants to obtain citizenship	KAANJ office	Weekly	Open to all
Voter Registration Drives	Promote the full participation of Korean Americans in the electoral process.	Onsite at Various Locations Throughout the State	May, July, September	Open to all
Community Fundraising	Establish a Community Center facility	KAANJ office	Monthly	Open to all
Community Publication & Media	Publishes newspaper with a circulation of 10,000 copies Weekly Radio Broadcast on RadioKorea Weekly Cable Television Broadcast on Media Korea Television	KAANJ office 1660 AM Digital Cable channel 73	Monthly Weekly Weekly
“Silver School” Senior Citizens Educational Programs	To Provide continuing education programs in: English as a Second Language Basic Computer Skills Health Awareness Classes Information on Governmental Assistance Programs Religious Programs	KAANJ office	Daily	Elders and Retirees

Events	Goal	Location	Date	Participants
Annual Korean-American Thanksgiving Festival	Celebrate, share and showcase Korean heritage and culture	Leonia, NJ	September 30 - October 1st, 2006	Approximately 100,000 attendees
Annual Ski Festival	Promote winter sports and celebrate lunar calendar New Year in February	Mountain Creek ski resort, NJ	January 28-29, 2006	2,000 Attendees
Golf Tournament	Establish a scholarship fund	Black Bear Golf Course Franklin, NJ	May 31, 2006	160 Attendees
Drawing Contest	Provide scholarships to qualified students	KAANJ office	Second week of June	Approx. 500