A Day of Armenian Culture, Music, Dance, Community and Hope Marks the 35th Anniversary of the Republic of Armenia
GLENDALE — The Armenian community of Southern California gathered at Glendale’s Verdugo Park for the 27th Annual Armenian Independence Day Festival, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia.
Under the California sunshine, Verdugo Park was transformed into a vibrant Armenian gathering place. The park was filled with booths representing merchants, businesses, community organizations and service providers from throughout Southern California’s Armenian community. Visitors had the opportunity to explore Armenian products, learn about community services, enjoy delicious food and, most importantly, come together in celebration of Armenia and Armenian heritage.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., the official stage program began. The beautifully decorated stage, designed by Odet’s Cakes & Balloons, provided a festive setting for a day filled with music, dance and cultural performances.
Opening remarks were delivered by the day’s masters of ceremonies, Harutyun Minasyan in Armenian and Steven Hovagimian in English.
In his remarks, Hovagimian emphasized that Armenian independence represents far more than a flag, a government or geographic territory. He spoke about the freedom and responsibility to preserve the Armenian language, practice one’s faith, educate children about their heritage, and keep Armenian music, dance, traditions and history alive for future generations.
He reminded the audience that Armenian children performing on stage, Armenian music filling the air in Glendale, and Armenian and American flags flying side by side were all expressions of a living Armenian heritage — “Armenia living thousands of miles away from Armenia.”
Hovagimian expressed gratitude to the City of Glendale, organizers, volunteers, sponsors, performers, musicians, dancers and community organizations, and especially to the families and community members whose participation makes the annual festival possible.
Reflecting on his 27 years of involvement with the celebration, Hovagimian offered a heartfelt message of gratitude and called on those gathered to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Armenian independence with pride and unity, gratitude for the past and hope for the future. He concluded by asking for blessings upon Armenia, the Armenian people, the United States and the City of Glendale.
The ceremonial portion of the program continued with the national anthems of the United States and the Republic of Armenia, performed by Marine Ter-Kazaryan.
A Celebration Filled With Armenian Dance
One of the highlights of the festival was the participation of several children’s dance groups, showcasing the energy, talent and dedication of a new generation of Armenian-American youth.
The participating groups included Arm Dance Show Ballet, Santa Clarita Armenian Dance Academy, Dance with Ani Studio, Move Art Dance Studio, Nrane Vocal & Dance Studio, and Karapetyans Dance Studio.
The young dancers brought the stage to life with colorful costumes, traditional movements and spirited performances, demonstrating how Armenian culture continues to flourish among younger generations.
The audience also enjoyed an energetic performance of “Arrii Parrii” by Tigran Grigoryan, bringing Armenian dance music and movement to the celebration.
Young performers from Yeremyans Taekwondo Club and AN Dhol Studio also took the stage, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Music, Poetry and the Sound of Armenia
The cultural program continued throughout the day with a wide variety of musical and artistic performances.
Sevan Keleshian recited Armenian poetry, accompanied by songs performed by Karnig Jebejian. Their presentation created an emotional moment, combining the power of Armenian poetry with the enduring beauty of Armenian music.
The audience was also treated to performances by Alicia Keoshgerian on the traditional kanon and Shant Tanielian on violin, adding another dimension to the day’s cultural program.
As the afternoon continued, the stage became a center of Armenian popular music and celebration. Performers included Karo Khalulyan, Meri Babayan, Hratch Gaydzagian, Harout Khatchiyan and his band, Arno Stepanyan on saxophone, and his daughter Mikaela, whose voice captivated the audience.
The musical program continued with performances by Malika, rapper Big-E, Christina Yeghoyan, Magar Yeghiazaryan, Zara Markosyan, and singer-songwriter Sako G. Garabedian.
Music brought the crowd together throughout the afternoon, with audience members dancing, singing along and joining in the celebration.
An Emotional Closing Tribute to Armenia
As the festival approached its conclusion, master of ceremonies Steven Hovagimian returned to the stage for an emotional closing tribute.
He recited Yeghishe Charents’ beloved poem “Yes Im Anush Hayastani” (“I Love the Sun-Sweet Taste of Armenia”), one of the best-known literary expressions of affection for Armenia and its people.
The words of Charents resonated with those gathered at Verdugo Park. For many, the recitation became more than the conclusion of a festival; it served as a reminder of the Armenian people’s ancient history, enduring identity and aspiration for a peaceful and independent homeland.
Some members of the audience were moved to tears as the poem echoed through the park, evoking Armenia’s history, culture and the enduring desire to live in freedom and peace while preserving Armenian identity for generations to come.
Armenia Living Thousands of Miles Away
The 27th Annual Armenian Independence Day Festival was more than a one-day celebration. It was a demonstration of the vitality of Southern California’s Armenian community and an expression of Armenian identity in America.
From merchants and community organizations to children dancing on stage, from musicians and singers to families gathered together under the California sun, participants contributed to a celebration centered on Armenian heritage and community.
The festival reflected how Armenian identity continues to be sustained far from the homeland — through language, history, music, dance, traditions and connections between generations.
As the celebration came to an end, families and friends left Verdugo Park with memories of the day and a renewed sense of connection to their heritage.
And perhaps most importantly, they left with hope — and the anticipation of gathering again next year to celebrate together.
Կեցցէ՛ Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւնը։
Կեցցէ՛ հայ ժողովուրդը։
God bless Armenia.
God bless the Armenian people.
And God bless the United States of America and the wonderful City of Glendale.
