The eighth annual Russian-American Fair, starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m., will transform the ALSJCC into a Russian village.
Two-to-three dozen booths will offer gifts, crafts and food. Representatives from such groups as Hebrew Free Loan Association, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival and the Bay Area Council for Jewish Rescue and Renewal also will be present, as will businesses that provide Russian-speaking services, including real estate firms and computer schools.
“We have a rich cultural heritage which we’d like to share with the American public and with the Jewish community,” says Vladimirsky, who is the program director of adult services at the ALSJCC. “We say thank you to the American Jewish community for welcoming us here.”
The fair will present the Troyan Family at 11 a.m., a clown act Vladimirsky remembers seeing on television in his native land. The act is famous in Russia and has its own show on Moscow TV, he says.
Tikvah School of Music and Dance, featuring Russian-Jewish children, will sing songs in Hebrew, English and Russian, and will perform ballroom and folk dances at 12:10 p.m.
The JCC klezmer youth band, Kataklezm, will perform at 1 p.m. Morning Stars will present classical music at 1:45 p.m. Music Box, a variety show, will take the stage at 2:30 p.m. Lysaya Dance Ensemble will present the finale at 3:30 p.m.
Russian cartoons will screen from noon to 4 p.m. Other highlights will include a booth featuring vodka-tasting, a chess tournament and a petting zoo.
The Russian-speaking community in the south Peninsula has grown since the first Russian-American fair eight years ago. At that time, according to Vladimirsky, 1,000 people attended the event. Last year 3,000 to 4,000 visitors attended. He says he hopes for as good a crowd this year.
Palo Alto Mayor Liz Kniss will officially open the fair at noon.
The ALSJCC is located at 655 Arastradero Road. General admission is $3 to $5. Children under the age of 6 will get in free. For information, call (650) 493-9400.