Street festival brings Thai culture to Annandale
The food and culture of Thailand were featured at a festival on Sunday at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space in Annandale.
There were about 20 Thai street food vendors and a dozen other vendors, traditional Thai dance performances, a Thai massage demonstration, and a Muay Thai boxing exhibition.
The event on Mothers’ Day was the first Thai market in Annandale, says Doi Phuenphiphop, chief of operations at the NVA Thai Center. The center, at the Wat Yarnna Rangcee Buddhist Monastery and Thai school in Sterling, started holding Thai markets a couple of years ago, then relocated the events to a bigger space at the City of Manassas Museum. Next week, they’re having an even bigger market in Loudoun County.
Eventually, Phuenphiphop says, the center hopes to develop a “Thai Town,” similar to the Eden Center, with restaurants and businesses. They haven’t found a location yet. He says Annandale probably isn’t a good fit, as they will need a space with lots of parking.
There are some 20,000 Thai Americans in the D.C. area, he says.
The Muay Thai demonstration featured Master Danny’s team from Manassas. At 80 years old and with one eye, Master Danny can still fight and train boxers.
Muay Thai involves kicking, punching, kneeing, and elbowing an opponent. But it’s also about developing character and respect, says Russell Thomas of Ubon Muay Thai in Ashburn.
“It’s all about control – controlling our body and controlling our mind,” says Thomas, who trained in the sport in Thailand.
“Whoever is most in control will win the fight, even if you’re in a chaotic situation outside of the rink,” he says. Muay Thai is also a form of spirituality that includes meditation, as well as intense physical workouts.
If you missed the Thai Market in Annandale, no worries; there will be a bigger Thai Market with more entertainment and more vendors on June 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at the same location – the Eileen Garnett Civic Space at 7200 Columbia Pike.
