14th Annual Festival a Celebration of Korean Traditions

Thousands of people are expected to attend this weekend’s 14th Annual Korean Festival of Orange County, which will feature a parade, folk dancers, carnival rides and models showing off traditional dress.

Opening ceremonies will be Friday at K.D. & Seoul Plaza on Garden Grove Boulevard in Garden Grove. Carnival rides will begin at noon; folk dancers from An-Yang, Korea, will perform at 6 p.m.; models will parade in traditional Korean attire during an evening fashion show, and dignitaries will officially proclaim the start of the festival at 7 p.m.

Highlighting the festival will be Saturday’s parade at 3 p.m. It will include floats, 15 marching bands, Grand Marshal Bulam Choi, a Korean actor and former congressman in Seoul, and the Ye Sool Tan dancers of An-Yang.

Other activities will include a Korean wrestling, bowling and chess tournament, jang-ki and yut-no-ri contests, a free health clinic and a karaoke contest.

Festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

The K.D. & Seoul Plaza is between Gilbert and Brookhurst streets on the south side of Garden Grove Boulevard. Information: (714) 638-1440.