The Houston International Festival has officially begun.  Masters of ceremony included television news anchors from seven Houston Television stations.  Greg Hurst of KHOU-TV, Channel 11, welcomed the crowd and introduced the Sister Cities of Houston Children's International Parade. Listen: RealPlayer  MP3

The other emcees were Marcello Marini of KTMD-TV, Channel 47; Jerome Gray, KPRC-TV, Channel 2; Mia Gradney, KHCW-TV, Channel 39; Marine Hernandez, KXLN-TV, Channel 45; Isiah Carey, KRIV-TV, Channel 26; and Gina Gaston, KTRK-TV, Channel 13.

Speakers included Houston International Festival Foundation, Inc. Chair Jew Don Boney; His Excellency Berhan Hailu, Minister of Information for Ethiopia; and Houston Mayor Pro Tem Adrian Garcia.  The speeches were followed by a performance by the National Dance Theater of Ethiopia.

United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee brought an official proclamation from Washington, D.C. to the ceremony. Listen: RealPlayer  MP3