WESTON WORLD FEST CONNECTS COMMUNITY

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE AT THE 8th annual Weston World Fest on Sunday, March 5th at Weston Regional Park. “Animals of the Planet” is this year’s theme and each of the 20 country booths will feature displays of its furred, feathered or finned native species. Presented by the City of Weston and the Arts Council of Greater Weston, Weston World Fest is a celebration of the multicultural community in which we live. The event was created by Carol Lema, whose family spent two decades living abroad before settling in Weston. She wanted to share that global experience with others by bringing international sights, sounds and cuisine to the community.

“I started with a lot of passion and blind faith that an event like this would be successful here and was delighted to find a very diverse set of volunteers who were excited about showcasing their countries of origin or ancestry,” said Lema, founder and director of Weston World Fest. “I love seeing people of all ages enjoy learning about the different countries, experience the onstage performances, try the foods, and in some cases, even speak the languages of the countries represented. Weston has a wonderful mix of people from all over. What better way to recognize that than by celebrating together.”

This year’s program features booths from across the globe, with South Africa making its first appearance and the United States returning after several years. The exhibits are both interactive and informative, with displays depicting the country’s unique culture, geography, and more. Activities range from games and arts and crafts to physical challenges, such as last year’s popular “fire walking” in Singapore.

The educational component extends to the Passport program. Students can travel the world, getting their passports stamped at each country booth they visit. Completed passports can be redeemed for additional activities such as henna art or temporary tattoos.

The event stage will feature a full line-up of musicians, dancers and entertainers, including the return of Ronin Taiko, the acclaimed Japanese drum troupe, as well as new acts such as folk dancers performing the Paraguayan Bottle Dance.

The expanded restaurant section will allow guests to sample global fare with authentic cuisine from Lebanon, Italy, Singapore, Greece, Turkey and more, or sip a delicious coffee concoction or tasty bubble tea.

Weston Mayor Margaret Brown encourages everyone to attend this unique, family-friendly event. “Weston World Fest incorporates the Arts Council’s love and support of music and art, adds in cultures from around the globe, and lets it explode into one glorious, vibrant, immersive experience for every age.”

Weston World Fest attendees are encouraged to stop by the Arts Council of Greater Weston booth to learn about the other incredible programs it produces for our community and also to take part in a national survey to assess the impact of arts and culture in the community.

“We urge everyone to take a few minutes and participate in this survey,” requests Annalisa Walker, special events manager for the City of Weston. “We want to ensure events like this return year after year and show the need for additional outreach to our diverse, thriving community.”

Weston World Fest takes place from 12-4 pm near the event stage at Weston Regional Park. Entrance to the festival is free of charge; food and beverages are available for purchase. For more information go to 1weston.com/weston-world-fest

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