The United States of America is the ultimate melting pot of cultures, and the City of Scotts Valley is no exception.
Just like other towns across the country, Scotts Valley endeavors to celebrate its diversity, and the third annual Multicultural Fair being held at Skypark on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 10:30am-3:30pm is a great way to extol that virtue.
This free family event is meant to create community among locals and demonstrate the richness of Scotts Valley’s residents.
Co-chairs Christina McQueen, Ashley Perlitch and Amee Sawhney, along with an amazing committee of hardworking dedicated teachers and community members, have been working hard to plan this event for months. All are volunteers who feel strongly in the mission of this event and are eager to bring the festivities to life.
According to Perlitch, the Scotts Valley Multicultural Fair was initiated through a collaborative effort involving various community organizations, individual members, the Scotts Valley Unified School District and the City of Scotts Valley. Recognizing the richness of multiculturalism in Scotts Valley and its surroundings, these entities came together to create an event that celebrates and embraces the diverse cultures and traditions present in the area.
With a shared goal of fostering a stronger sense of community, the fair aims to unite residents in a shared appreciation for diversity. Through various activities and experiences, it endeavors to promote connections and understanding among people of different backgrounds while advancing inclusivity and unity within the community.
Sawhney said the Multicultural Fair was created to be a joyful event with festive interactive booths, music and dance performances and food representing many different parts of the world. Goals for this community celebration include broadening the understanding and appreciation for multiculturalism and diversity present here in Scotts Valley, and building community connections, especially for youth.
Over the past few years, this event has helped achieve these goals while also being a fun way to spend a day with family, friends and neighbors.
While all ages are welcome to participate in the celebration, children are provided with a passport book upon arrival at the Information booth. They can then take these passports around to visit the more than 30 booths of countries and cultures, and get their passports stamped at each one.
Each booth is run by community volunteers showcasing their culture with information about their culture, traditions, clothes, holidays and food. Each booth will have some sort of free craft or activity to partake in.
Simultaneously, there will be festive live music and dance performances on the stage during the entire event, including SVUSD students singing and dancing, marimba music by Singing Wood, a fusion of North African and Moroccan music by the band AZA, Watsonville Taiko drumming, Mexican folklórico dancing by Raices Mestizas, West African drumming by Mohamed Bangoura and the Boffa Boforata Ballet, capoeira by Raizes do Brasil, Hawaiian dancing by Te Hau Nui, Odissi classical Indian dance by the Shakti Bhakti Ensemble, flamenco and tango dancing by Nancy and John Lingmann, poetry readings, as well as a colorful Global fashion parade of community residents showcasing traditional clothing.
The stage show is compiled and organized by renowned local director Tandy Beal & Company.
Attendees can expect a diverse range of food and beverage options available for purchase from many food truck vendors. Bringing a refillable water bottle is suggested, as complimentary water will be provided by Pure Valley Water.
While there will be some seating available for performances, guests are welcome to bring their own chairs and picnic blankets for added comfort. All of the interactive experiences are designed to celebrate and showcase the multiculturalism of Scotts Valley and its surrounding areas.
Admission to this event, and all activities are free. Information regarding the event may be found at scottsvalleymcf.com.
