Welcome back #SoundLovers! Get ready to dive deep into the vibrant world of Korean culture at local festivals! Houston's annual Korean Festival just wrapped up another successful year, treating attendees to mouthwatering culinary delights, mesmerizing stages showcasing the rich cultural heritage, and an electrifying performance and fan meet by the sensational rookie K-Pop boy-group, NCHIVE!
As the Fall season brings a refreshing cool breeze to the East coast, Texas is still sizzling with scorching temperatures -- but not even the blazing sun could stop the passionate fans of Korean culture from flocking to the 15th Annual Korean Festival in Houston on the weekend of October 12, 2024! Since its inception in 2009, the Korean Festival in Houston has blossomed into the largest free cultural events at Discovery Green, attracting hundreds of thousands of eager attendees hungry for a taste of its cultural marvels and mouth-watering cuisine. This year's festival organized by the Korean-American Society in Houston (KASH) was truly a remarkable and unforgettable experience for all who attended. The event marked a significant milestone in the festival's history as it expanded to a two-day celebration, showcasing the rich and vibrant Korean culture to the community.
Over the course of two the next thrilling 48-hours, the festival grounds were transformed into a lively and colorful spectacle, filled with the infectious beats of K-Pop music, spontaneous dance performances that captivated the audience, and a wide array of mouthwatering Korean dishes that tantalized the taste buds of visitors. The festival featured two dynamic stages, each offering a unique and diverse lineup of activities to cater to a wide range of interests. The K-Village stage was a hub of excitement, hosting engaging activities such as story time sessions by the Houston Public Library, a spirited kimchi eating contest, dance workshops led by Gabbie Gozali from Wonderbox, and electrifying K-Pop showcases featuring talented acts like Crystal, Sweven Crew, MISFIT, Wander, Audrey, and many more. On the other hand, the Kroger stage, hosted by the dynamic duo Nate and local influencer -- Jovi, mesmerized the audience with a wide range of culture heritage stages including traditional Hanbok fashion shows, enchanting performances by Han Narae & DORI Women's Percussion, captivating Taekwondo displays, a fun-filled K-Pop trivia game by What in the K-Pop?!, high-energy beat mixing by DJ TND and DJ Hydeheart, and exhilarating K-pop dance contests that kept the crowd on their feet.
Headlining the Kroger stage events for both days of Houston's annual Korean festival was none other than K-Pop rookie boy-group NCHIVE (엔카이브)! This highly skilled six-member boy group, showcasing the talents of members Ha.L, N, Kangsan, Juyoung, E.aN, and Yuchan, burst onto the scene on April 9, 2024, under the spotlight of AUBEMOON STUDIO with their electrifying debut single album showcasing the powerful title track, "Racer." From captivating fan-cons in Seoul and Japan, NCHIVE is winning over hearts worldwide! As the group prepared to take the stage and dazzle U.S. SAVE (the group's dedicated fandom) on Day 1 of the festival, K Fuse had the thrilling opportunity to chat with the members about their unique name, upcoming projects, and their excitement for meeting U.S. SAVE!
Following the electrifying and exhilarating brief interview, the moment had finally arrived for NCHIVE to grace the stage! The atmosphere was charged with cheers and screams of pure excitement as the members mesmerized the crowd with a powerful stage of their debut song, "Racer," setting the tone for an unforgettable performance. After a thrilling interaction with the attendees, NCHIVE embarked on a dance extravaganza, showcasing their talent with vibrant covers of NCT Dream's "Candy," BTS' hits "DOPE" and "Boy In Luv," and surprising the audience with two exclusive unreleased tracks. The first track was only a teaser with NCHIVE's leader, Ha.L, hinting at a foreseeable comeback by saying,
"We aren't sure if this is going to be our title track, yet."
For the second, Ha.L expressed,
"On our first album we have a fan song, but on this second album, we are going to have a fan song that NCV and SAVE can enjoy together."
The crowd was swept away by the infectious rhythm and heartfelt lyrics of "LOVE ME," as NCHIVE and SAVE harmonized beautifully, embodying the true spirit of a fan song. Expressing gratitude to their fans, NCHIVE closed their phenomenal set with the fan-favorite "Fireworks," igniting an explosion of cheers and sing-alongs from SAVE, who were completely immersed in the vibrant energy of NCHIVE's remarkable performance!
As the group bid farewell from the stage to get ready for their encore, fans kept the already electric atmosphere alive during the break, eagerly anticipating the moment they would reunite with their beloved members! Drawing from the fans' infectious energy, E.aN made a triumphant return to the stage solo, delivering a heartwarming rendition of Taeyang's "Eyes, Nose, Lips," that touched everyone's hearts before being joined by the rest of the group. NCHIVE stormed back to the stage, captivating the audience with their explosive performances of BIGBANG's "BANG BANG BANG" and "Fantastic Baby," showcasing their individual talents, pure joy, and contagious energy in their own unique styles as they danced alongside the crowd. Even as the night drew to a close, the members couldn't bear to part ways with the fans' sky-high energy levels, so they launched into more BIGBANG covers, repeatedly fueling the crowd before finally expressing their heartfelt gratitude to KASH and the attendees, pledging to come back with even more spectacular stages. Before wrapping up the unforgettable night, the group seized one last chance to connect with the fans through a spontaneous performance of "Racer," leaving everyone buzzing with excitement and anticipation for their next epic show!
Houston's first ever Day 2 of their annual Korean Festival brought more scorching hot temperatures! But fans powered through the heat, exploring the vibrant vendors, busting out some moves in a spontaneous dance play on the main stage lawn, and mastering a new K-Pop dance at the K-Village stage. The morning festival vibe was all about inclusivity, thanks to the fantastic partnership between KASH and Kulture City, creating a sensory-friendly experience for all attendees. As the day unfolded, the festival transformed into a melting pot of sensory-friendly spaces and high-energy zones, ensuring there was something for everyone. From mesmerizing performances by Hae Narae & DORI, soul-stirring melodies from Lamar University's A Cappella Choir, to thrilling self-defense demos and taekwondo showcases, the crowd was treated to a non-stop entertainment extravaganza. And let's not forget the dynamic duo, Nate and Jovi, who lit up the stage as emcees for NCHIVE's fan meet, keeping the energy levels sky-high!
As the members of NCHIVE graced the stage in vibrant colors that popped against the backdrop of the autumn foliage, the main lawn erupted once again with thunderous cheers as SAVE eagerly welcomed the members back! The energy levels soared as NCHIVE geared up to connect with U.S. SAVE on a deeper, more intimate level, diving into fan questions about their first impressions, unforgettable moments, and favorite Texas foods! The fan meet took a thrilling turn as fans got a glimpse into how the members perceive each other, with an exciting segment titled, "Who's More Likely To...?" NCHIVE faced scenarios where they had to pick the member best suited for the role, leading to hilarious comparisons with SAVE's choices. Laughter filled the air, and there were plenty of joyous reactions, with only one scenario resulting in a unanimous decision between NCHIVE and SAVE!
"Who is most likely to star in a drama?"
The votes predominantly favored Kangsan, who responded with infectious enthusiasm,
"Thank you! Houston! Good!"
After a series of unexpected outcomes, it was time to transition to the next thrilling segment, where NCHIVE divided into two spirited teams -- N, Ha.L, and Yuchan forming Team A~~, and Kangsan, Juyoung, and E.aN forming Team Handsome Guys -- for an electrifying round of "Guess The Song." The competition heated up as each team eagerly shouted their name to answer and earn points, showcasing their knowledge of the songs. In a nail-biting finish, Team A~~ emerged victorious! Following a friendly and exhilarating showdown, it was time for the members to bid a fond farewell to SAVE, ending the event on a high note. The energy of the crowd carried over into the evening's final event where Yuchan stepped up as a special guest judge for the evening's thrilling dance competition, keeping the festivities alive and vibrant!
As the sun set on the final day of the festival, hearts were full, and smiles were wide as attendees bid farewell to another successful year of the Korean Festival in Houston. The 15th Annual Korean Festival in Houston was a true celebration of Korean heritage and culture, offering a diverse range of activities that appealed to guests of all ages. Attendees had the opportunity to immerse themselves in Korean traditions, explore the country's rich history, and interact with passionate volunteers who shared their knowledge and love for Korean culture. It was an event that left a lasting impression on everyone who participated, creating memories that will be cherished for years to come. Let's continue to celebrate and support the incredible cultural exchange that events like these foster in our communities.
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K Fuse would like to that the teams at KASH and the 2024 Korean Houston Festival, along with the members of NCHIVE, Aubemoon Studios, and all who made this weekend one to remember! We are grateful for the opportunity and owe each of you a thank you for entrusting us to provide coverage of such an incredible and exciting event!
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