Welcome to the Cambodian Cultural Festival of 2018. It is free and open to all. This year, we bring you another type of entertainment: a Yeekae entitled “Kolab Pailin”. Yeekae is a Cambodian musical show that tells a story through a traditional music and dance. It also faces extinction. The story is a Cambodian literature written by Mr. Nhok Them. It contains lots of cultural and educational values. Never before the story is used in a form of Yeekae (yike) art. We are the first one.
A group of Cambodian musicians, the Khmer Magic Music Bus, will be visiting USA from October 24 to November 13, 2018. It is part of "arts4peace" tour organized by Cambodian Living Arts. CCD will host a meet-n-greet event at Cambodian Buddhist Temple of Silver Spring, 13800 New Hampshore Ave, Silver Spring MD 20904 Sunday November 11, 2018 2-5 PM. Contact Kunthary DeGaiffier 202-413-6461.
Welcome to the Cambodian Cultural Festival of 2017. It is free and open to all. Whether you have an earnest desire to learn more about the rich Cambodian culture, the oldest in Southeast Asia, or simply are looking to have fun for one Sunday, this is an event you do not want to miss. This year, among many other dances, we have a pleasure to bring you a Cambodian traditional dance opera entitled Lakhon Bassac "Tip Sangva". This type of Cambodian entertainment was once popular in Cambodia in the old days, but now, according to UNESCO, it is almost extinct. Our mission is to promote, present and preserve Cambodian culture. This year we have a great opportunity to do just that to revitalize this traditional entertainment. 
Our Purpose
CCD was founded by a group of Cambodian volunteers in the Washington DC area in 2001 to promote Cambodian culture. CCD organizes and collaborates Cambodian cultural resources and presents them to the public through various events such as the Khmer New Year in April, the annual Cambodian Cultural Festival in the summer and the Asian Pacific Heritage Month in May. Our main focus includes (but is not limited) to:
- Promoting Cambodian culture in America, especially among youths;
- Supporting efforts to conserve history and culture;
- Educating the public about the rich Cambodian culture, heritage, custom, and tradition;
- Fostering coordination and cooperation with other groups with similar interests;
- Raising community awareness about Cambodia 's history and culture and the importance of preserving them; and
Disseminating truthful information about the Cambodian culture and related researches in Cambodia and the USA.
What We Do
CCD provides some ad hoc services to the Khmer community, participates in fundraising activities for various charitable organizations, and foremost, celebrates the Cambodian culture through the annual Cambodian Cultural Festival. The festival is a token of solidarity in the Khmer communities surrounding the Washington DC Metro area. The festival has enabled us to develop bonds, bridge differences and heal rifts in the Khmer communities and beyond. It also provides a means to reach
out and share our values with others.
The festival, attended by several thousand spectators each year, is a showcase of Khmer traditional music, classical, folklore and social dances and shows, and children 's games, arts and crafts, exhibitions and much more. For example, in 2013, CCD organized a unique folklore show titled "Yeeke Mak Theung". In 2014, we produced Lakhon Bassac, a Khmer opera play, a form of Khmer traditional entertainment that UNESCO deems is on its way to extinction.
Besides major productions, we also organize fashion shows to highlight Cambodian traditional clothing from thousands of years ago, participated by Cambodian youths. The shows were presented during Khmer New Year where more than 10,000 celebrants attended. The importance of the festival is to bring large groups of people in the community together to have fun and to share experiences. The festival also exposes Cambodian culture, tradition and values to young Cambodian American.
