As part of its After Dark series, the Crow Collection of Asian Art introduces Dallas to Korean culture in a way they’ve likely never seen before. The inaugural Korean Thanksgiving takes place Friday, September 18, from 6 pm to midnight, and best of all, it’s free.
Korean Thanksgiving Day, or Chuseok, traditionally is celebrated for three days and marks the beginning of the harvest season. This block party is the first and only large event to celebrate the holiday in Dallas.
The celebration brings a little bit of Seoul to the Dallas Arts District. Dallasites can immerse themselves in Korean culture by witnessing folk tales by Twice Upon a Time Storytellers, song and dance with Mimi Shin, and a crossover musical performance featuring Grace Baek. Listen to Arirang, a song dating back 600 years that is recognized as a national song among its people, and participate in hands-on art activities like origami, sotdae, or making gift boxes.
No harvest festival would be complete without food and drink. Check out a Korean tea ceremony demonstration, then sample cuisine as you learn about its origin. For example, Koreans prepare a special rice cake called songpyeon and present it to their families on this special day, and you can taste it here.
“Our hope is that this event provides diverse audiences the opportunity to experience Korean culture and learn about a tradition that they may not have been familiar with in the past,” says deputy director Stacie Adams.
Although this event is free, guests are asked to register online. For more information, check out the Crow Collection of Asian Art website.
