Owensboro’s Multicultural Festival is back for the 26th year with the theme “Threads of Unity.” Attendees will have the opportunity to encounter world cultures through music, food, art, dance, and exhibits in a celebration of diversity. While there are more than 50 exhibits highlighting various countries, organizers are especially proud to bring back a focus on Chinese culture.
The festival will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday with the People’s Parade led by the Lunar Lion Dance group and music from the Owensboro High School Choir.
“We’re really excited about that because we haven’t had our Chinese connection in a couple of years,” said Debbie McCoy, chair of the Owensboro Multicultural Festival Committee.
The director of the Lunar Lion Dance group, Steven Nguyen, said they’re excited to bring back China’s representation in this grand fashion. Lion dancing dates back to the year 220 and symbolizes the scaring away of demons.
“Our neo-traditional Lion Dance team, Lunar Lion Dance, uses Hok San lion heads and uniquely performs with a combination of dance/music styles,” Nguyen said.
Their performance includes the same Lion Dancing their ancestors performed to ward the demons and bless towns. Within the parade, they hope to not only provide the blessing over Owensboro but also welcome patrons to their culture.
The team will showcase traditional music styles on stage while the Lions awaken with loud heartbeats. Audience members can look forward to a traditional Tangerine blessing routine and various stunts throughout both performances.
McCoy said that with 58 exhibitors and roughly 25 cultural booths, the festival will be larger than in previous years and will provide a wider range of countries represented.
“We expect a record number of exhibitors and food vendors that will give festival-goers a rich experience and help them connect with cultures from around the world,” she said.
The Multicultural Festival is also bringing back its Festival Passport to encourage people to interact with the different booths in attendance. Prizes will be awarded to the first 30 people who complete their passports.
“We used that to get people engaged at the booths and give the people something to do to learn about the different booths there and not just walking by,” McCoy said.
The festival’s large atmosphere works toward its mission of fostering understanding and respect for similarities and differences among the different cultures Owensboro represents.
This year’s theme is “Threads of Unity,” inspired by The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Director of Christian Education & Mission at First Presbyterian Church Jeff Moles said the hope is to remind people of the threads that tie the community together.
“Each of us is like a thread that is beautiful on its own, but together, we make a colorful tapestry,” he said. “First Presbyterian Church believes that we are stronger when we create a community with people who are different from ourselves. The Multicultural Festival is a way for us to live out that belief.”
