CultureFest Showcases a World of Festive Fun

You don’t need to hop a plane to sample homemade Vietnamese casava cake, dance to the beat of African drums, or have your fortune told with Japanese Omikuji slips.

Just stop by CultureFest, the joyful celebration of cultural heritages represented in the Park Cities, which was held this year on April 5 at Highland Park Presbyterian Church.

About 1,000 explorers attended the annual event, double the number who came to the first CultureFest three years ago, said Esther Choi, one of the celebration’s co-chairs.

Bringing sights, tastes, and sounds from around the world to the Park Cities took a team effort from hundreds of volunteers and sponsors, who contributed funds, effort, and time to make the afternoon a reality.

“We’re trying to strengthen our community. We want to make connections, so that we understand each other better,” Choi said.

At the Japan table, Junko and Kent Cummings gave passersby, including this People Newspapers reporter, a glimpse into their futures with Omikuji, fortune slips drawn at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan.

My fortune predicted only a little luck today, but Junko Cummings said not to worry — things are headed in the right direction. Boone Elementary third-grader Keoni Cummings, who helped at the table, thought the event was fun and that the future looked bright.

“You can help people, and then they can get prizes, seeing how much fun they’re having, it’s happy to see them,” he said. “And if there’s still gifts left at the very end, I can keep them.”

Nearby, Tamara Smith and her mother, Samanmalee Foley, gave away samples of Sri Lankan Pol Toffee and Chick Bits. The pair also showcased the island nation’s décor, famous Ceylon tea, and cinnamon.

“It’s a relatively unknown country,” Smith explained. “Many people have never heard of Sri Lanka. I think it’s really important to encourage diversity in the Park Cities.” 

The festival highlighted fashions and performers from around the world. Saber fencers and Kung Fu martial artists showed their skills, and dances included styles such as Bollywood, traditional Korean fan, and K-pop.

Armstrong Elementary first-graders Ava Sweidan, Emma Feeney, and Sloane Grubich joined the action onstage during an African drum performance. Grubich, who found the dancing pretty easy, said that she’d enjoyed everything about CultureFest, and especially her panda tattoo from China.

Outside Elliott Hall, Harman Kaur helped guests experience the fashions of India, including decorative stickers called bindi, and long, scarf-like dupatta. Her husband helped people try on turbans, which Kaur’s sons wear to Highland Park High School.

“We want our children to know who they are and be able to be confident in who they are in their own skin, and that cannot come if you just hide,” Kaur said. “Let’s meet each other and embrace each other … We’re promoting love, and that’s what we want to share.”