WorldFest Celebration

SMSU WorldFest Celebrates Diversity

in partnership with the City of Marshall & Visit Marshall

TODAY

Red Baron Arena

The first WorldFest 2022 was an overwhelming success and brought together the SMSU community with Marshall and regional residents in a celebration of the many cultures in southwest Minnesota.

The April 30 event was held at the Red Baron Arena & Expo in Marshall.

WorldFest is a reboot of the International Food Festival held for 29 years at Southwest Minnesota State University. The pandemic caused the event to be canceled in 2020 and 2021.

Organizers widened the scope of the event for the 30th anniversary. WorldFest celebrated international cultures and local diversity through education, food, arts and cultural performances in three areas: • The World Café featured international food from Taste, the studentoperated restaurant at SMSU, and several other area vendors. • The World Cultures Expo featured SMSU students and community members sharing information about their respective home countries and cultures. The area also featured a number of hands-on activities that proved to be popular with families. Seventeen informational booths were available. • The World Stage showcased talent from SMSU, the local community and professional artists and troupes representing international and diverse cultures in southwest Minnesota. The line-up included Native Pride Dancers; Pete Lothringer and Ross Anderson, jazz musicians; Salmini Jayasuriya; Rince na Chori Irish dancers; Danish Atiq, SMSU student, sword dancing; Duniya African Drum & Dance; Ratsamee Lee, SMSU student, poetry; Norsk Four, Norwegian musicians and dancers; Karen Dance Troupe; Gia Vang, KARE Channel 11 news anchor, and her father Tsong Tong Vang, Hmong flutist and storytelling; and Salsa Magic, Latin Dance lessons and dance party.

“We were pleasantly surprised that 941 people attended. We were very happy get such a wonderful turnout, especially considering the downpour during the day,” said event organizer Dr. May Lee Moua-Vue, Director of the Center for International Education at SMSU. Organizers hoped for a crowd of 500.

She gave a shout-out to the “yummy tacos from Taste. What a great opportunity to showcase our student-run restaurant. Chef Ronnie (Walker) and his students did an amazing job.

“I also want to thank all co-sponsors, steering committee leaders and the many volunteers who helped make WorldFest possible. Make plans to attend next year!”

WorldFest was sponsored by SMSU, the City of Marshall, Southwest Regional Development Commission, Visit Marshall, the Southwest Initiative Foundation and the Lyon County Historical Museum.

Next year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, April 15, 2023. Anyone interested in participating, performing, presenting, providing food, or volunteering should contact the organizers using interest forms online at www.SMSU.edu/go/worldfest