2023 World Fest is April 15
Published Tuesday, April 11, 2023
The Second WorldFest, a celebration of international culture and local diversity through education, food, arts, and cultural performances, is set for Saturday, April 15 from noon to 6:00 pm at the Red Baron Arena.
In 2022, SMSU partnered with Visit Marshall and the City of Marshall to launch a new event that built on the 30-year tradition of International Food, Entertainment, and Education at SMSU. The first WorldFest in 2022 drew over 1,000 attendees bringing together the SMSU community with Marshall and regional residents in a celebration of the many cultures in southwest Minnesota. WorldFest is the area’s biggest global celebration of the year. The celebration in 2022 was a reinvention of the 30 year-run of the International Food Festival after the event was canceled in 2020 and 2021.
WorldFest will include three key areas:
World Cuisine: Food Vendors will be open from noon until 6 p.m. and will feature international food, local favorites, local ethnic restaurants and food trucks. Vendors to date include Asian Hut Food Truck, The Atlantic Place, Brau Brothers Brewing, Holmberg Orchard, Lingen Dairy, MGLX Food & Drink, Momma Maria's Rolling Taco Truck, Scotty Bigg's BBQ, The Blender Co. Coffee & Drinks, and the SMSU Culinology Program.
The World Cultures Education and Expo: This will be open from noon to 6 p.m. and features SMSU students and community members sharing information about their respective home countries and cultures. This area will also feature a number of hands-on activities. Featured exhibits/countries include The Arc Minnesota, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Hmong, Jamaica, Karen (Thailand), Laos, Lyon County Historical Museum, Lyon County- Marshall Library, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Somali, Taiwan, Youth for Understand Exchange Programs, Taste of Pickles Around the World, Origami, Fun with Flags, Marshall DEI Committee, Hmong ABC Bookstore, ME Fuller, SMSU Admissions and more.
The World Stage: This will run from noon to 6 p.m. and features talent from SMSU, the local community and professional artists and troupes representing international and diverse cultures in southwest Minnesota. The performers and start times include:
12:00 Native Pride Dancers
12:40 Welcome
12:55 Ratsamee Lee
1:00 Narren of New Ulm
1:45 Hmong Dance
2:15 Bollywood Dance
2:20 Anthony & Saishal
2:30 Jazz by Pete and Ross
2:50 Henok Asfaw
3:00 Upper Sioux Drum Group
3:30 Karen Dance Troupe
3:50 Sal Jayasuriya
4:00 Anthony Xiong-Yang
4:15 MadHatters
4:30 Wabasso Dance Team
4:35 Moshood
4:40 Danza Guadalupana
5:00 Duniya Drum and Dance
For more details on the event and performers, visit www.SMSU.edu/go/worldfest
The event is sponsored by SMSU, the city of Marshall, Southwest Regional Development Commission, Visit Marshall, and the Southwest Initiative Foundation.
The event is also supported with funding from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund made possible by the voters of Minnesota.
SMSU students and K-12 students can enter the event free. The cost is $5 for all others. Food may be purchased from individual vendors.
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