The joyful Hafa Adai Festival in Balboa Park!

“Hafa adai” is a warm, friendly hello in the Chamorro language. It was also the name of a festival held today in San Diego!

The Hafa Adai Festival took place on the lawn of Balboa Park’s International Cottages. It was a joyful celebration filled with dance, food, crafts and culture, organized by the House of Chamorros.

The Chamorro people are indigenous to the Mariana Islands. Many with Chamorro ancestry live in Guam and the Northern Marianas. And more than a few live here in San Diego, too!

The House of Chamorros program today included an Opening Ceremony (complete with National Anthems and a beautifully sung traditional blessing), the Imahen Taotao Tano Dancers, and much more. I departed after the latter performance–too much else to do in the park!

I did take these photographs which I hope you’ll enjoy. One couldn’t stop smiling at this joyful event!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

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San Diego Beamers uplift hearts in Balboa Park!

According to their website, the San Diego Beamers are a group of family and friends dedicated to uplifting people’s hearts and souls through the power of music.

They were doing exactly that in Balboa Park this afternoon!

Up on the outdoor stage at the International Cottages, the San Diego Beamers were performing cool and classic hits, such as You Are My Sunshine, Tequila Sunrise, and Tin Man. The band members, most playing guitar, are all members of the House of Chamorros.

Their music is like a beam of sunshine. As you listen, you know that life is good. You can’t help smiling.

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Island Mist and Friends in Balboa Park!

A slow day in Balboa Park. Summer’s over, it’s getting cooler, and the holidays are still a few weeks away!

As I walked through the International Cottages, I saw the House of Chamorros musicians who call themselves Island Mist and Friends up on the stage creating beautiful music. This musical group often fills in when there are no scheduled lawn programs. This year’s cultural lawn programs are soon coming to an end.

I sat on a nearby bench and listened. The buoyant, happy, laid-back island tunes had a couple of arrivals dancing on the grass. And more people came as the performance continued!

Make beautiful music, and people will come!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!