Talofa! Samoan Heritage Festival comes to West Valley

 As one of the largest organized cultural celebrations in the state, the Samoan Heritage Festival will kick off July 25-28 in West Valley’s Centennial Park located at 5405 West 3100 South.

 Festival Event Coordinator Fuiavailili Tauvao Taito said the event is both a celebration of the Samoan culture and a way for people of all cultures to meet or reunite and have a great time.

 “[The festival] began as a way for our people to meet one another at least once a year,” Taito said. “It started small, but now it is so big, and there are so many different people who come, it is just wonderful.”

 The four-day event will feature a wide variety of entertainment on the main stage, including traditional island dances and contemporary musical performances.

 “We have people from many different places representing all different kinds of styles of entertainment,” Taito said. “We have groups from Arizona, California and Las Vegas, though most are here from Utah. We also have a group of fire dancers who are coming to us from Missouri.”

 The entertainment, according to Taito, is guaranteed to be different and exciting every day. In the park, there will be several organized sports and games for children too.

 There will be food and activities available throughout the day with most of the stage entertainment taking place after 5 p.m.

For Seeta Amituanui Sinapi, event coordinator and secretary of the Samoan Cultural Association, an important part of the event is to teach future generations of Samoans living here in Utah the culture of their native land.

 “The most important thing is that our children learn who they are and where they come from,” Sinapi said. “This cultural event is a celebration of who we are as Samoans.”

 According to Sinapi, one of the highlights of the event will be when the Samoan youth take part in the lauga, speeches traditionally performed in Samoa only by high chiefs.

“To see the youth take part in such an honor is a wonderful thing,” Sinapi said.

Dozens of food vendors will also line up throughout the park for those who want to sample a keke pua’a bun, luau pork, shaved ice or any other Samoan favorite.

 This will be the third year that the festival will take place in West Valley’s Centennial Park. More than 7,000 people are expected to attend the free event.

 “Our celebration isn’t just for us,” said Taito. “It is for everyone, every nationality. It is free and we will all have a lot of great food and a lot of fun with each other.”