Multicultural Festival offers new vendors, performers

The Lincoln University Dance Team performs in October 2015 during the Multicultural Fall Festival.
The Lincoln University Dance Team performs in October 2015 during the Multicultural Fall Festival.

The Multicultural Fall Festival continues to bring new entertainment and vendors to downtown Jefferson City while encouraging cultural competence.

The 17th annual Multicultural Fall Festival, hosted by Independent Living Resource Center Inc., will be 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday on High and Madison streets.

Last year's festival saw new vendors and entertainers, which ILRC Executive Director Melinda Cardone said will continue this year. More than 80 vendors from across the state will include new exhibitors like Unique Custom Laser Engraving of Rolla.

There will also be bands, a children's area and a fashion show put on by the Lincoln University International Student Association.

The festival will showcase performers such as the Beyond the Circle Dancers, a Native American troupe from Springfield; Capitol City Children's Choir; Jefferson City Swing Dance Club; local musician BJ Davis; and Bulgarian Spirit, a Bulgarian dance group from St. Louis. Lazell Williams, a steel drum player, and local artist Keely Johnson will perform for the first time at the festival.

Cardone said the festival is intended to encourage the community to welcome different individuals. It also teaches children about the variety of cultures and perspectives.

"It's important for kids to know about other cultures and that people may look different, whether it's the color of their skin or whether they're in a wheelchair or they have an accent, but really when it comes down to it, we are all the same," Cardone said. "We all have families, we all like to do things with our families and we all value the same things. So when it comes right down to it, it's important for them to learn that no matter what you look like, inside we're all the same kind of people."

This will be the second year ILRC hosts the festival, originally started by the Jefferson City Multicultural Forum, which disbanded a few years ago.

The Multicultural Fall Festival will run alongside Harvest Fest from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Governor's Mansion. While these two events are not related, it allows families to experience more activities, Cardone said.