Over the weekend of August 13 through 15, a Northwest-styled summer excitement – festival in the sun – was brought to the Renton Greater Highlands Viet Wah Plaza by One Media Venture. The first-year ever Renton International Festival provided a reason for festival-goers to visit the area that have yet to be touched by summer festivities. The 3-day festival brought out many in spite of the heat and bridged gap between communities with its international theme.

The festival kicked off with a ribbon cutting ceremony accompanied by Lion Dance performance from Master David Leong Shaolin Kung Fu School, with guests of honor including Renton Mayor Denis Law, Tulalip Resort Casino CEO Kenneth Kettler, Viet Wah Group Chairman and CEO Duc Tran, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of Seattle General Director Daniel Liao, Miss Washington 2010 Jacquie Brown, Renton Chamber of Commerce representative Don Jacobson, and a representative from the King County Executive Office.

Temperatures in the area reached the upper 90s during the weekend. Fortunately heat stroke did not affect anybody.

The festival featured ethnic and modern performances, food, merchandise, automobile display by Brotherton Cadillac, and on Saturday only, the International Automotive Showcase by NWMotiv.com.

The diverse performances went beyond what “diverse” typically encompass. Music performances included multiple genres of live music, ranging from country to alternative, and from bollywood to hip-hop; the festival even featured a quartet from the Northwest Sinfonietta. Dance performances included traditional and modern dances, as well as multi-cultural dances of the Vietnamese, the Chinese, the Filipino, the Indians and the Japanese.

Renton International Festival Day 1 and Performances:

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The food booths brought extra tastes to the Greater Highlands Shopping Center with a selection of shaved ice, sausages, Thai, elephant ears, dim-sum, and more.

Renton International Festival Day 2 and Performances:

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The NWMotiv International Automotive Showcase was hosted at Renton International Festival on Saturday, bringing in 50 selected showcars, models, and DJ to provide extra entertainment for the crowd. The 50 cars competed for 10 awards, which drew attention from carshow fans, festival-goers, and pedestrians on the main street. They also brought in Compustar, Acutint, Phil Su Attorney at Law, NOS Energy Drink, and the Drift Lounge RC Drift Team – who was a favorite attraction for the younger audience.

Renton International Festival Day 3 and Performances:

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NWMotiv International Automotive Showcase pictures:

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Renton Intnerational Festival Booth Vendors:

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