Discover, appreciate and celebrate ethnic and cultural diversity in Springfield during CultureFest 2017. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, September 23, at Springfield City Hall Plaza, 76 E. High Street, Springfield. The theme this year is “E Pluribus Unum, out of many one.”
CultureFest, now in its 21st year, is a multicultural one-day festival established to promote intercultural understanding. The entertainment lineup promises something for everyone. A broad range of performers will take the stage, treating audiences to everything from reggae, mariachi, hip-hop, gospel, bluegrass, and more. Entertainment will be featured on several stages and strolling performers will entertain in a crowd, at a line, along the street, around the plaza, table to table – you name it. The lively dancers promise to be a favorite as they take the stage to share the steps of West Africa, Panama, Egypt, Puerto Rico, China, India, America and more! Familiar favorites will be back, such as Mariachi Band Zelaya, Seefari Reggae, Xclusive Hip Hop, Egyptian Breeze, the Punjabi Bhangra, and Thiossane African Dance. New this year will the Temps Live, the Rheinlanders German Band, Daniel Dye and the Miller Road Band and the Sticks and Stones Blues Band.
On the Grassy Knoll, children and adults can enjoy interactive fun. Girls Scouts can earn a CultureFest badge. For all ages, on the CultureJam Stage, enjoy a lesson in Hip Hop, Mexican Dancing, Zumba, Belly Dancing or try out retro aerobics . Have a music lesson with Global Impact Stem Academy or learn to play instruments with the Springfield High School drum section and the USS Jammers. Learn about history at the Heritage Center of Clark County Tent or take a free bus ride to the Gammon House, to learn about Springfield’s unique Underground Railroad House.
Bring the children to CultureFest for a day full of fun at the Children’s Activity Tent coordinated by Wittenberg’s Hagen Center for Civic and Urban and Engagement from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.. Wittenberg student volunteers will be on hand to engage children in cultural arts and crafts. Spanish, French, German and Chinese language students from Springfield High School will provide special activities.
Community nonprofit groups will distribute information on their organizations, presenting a way to find out how to get involved and make great things happen in our community. Ethnic and traditional foods, including Indian, Hungarian, Mexican, Greek and American as well as selections of barbecue, grilled pork chops, fish and chips and sweet confections.
2017 CULTUREFEST ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE |
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MAIN STAGE |
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| 11:00-11:30 | Springfield HS Sign Language Choir |
| 11:30-11:50 | CultureFest Children’s Choir |
| 11:50-Noon | SHS Marching Band |
| 12-12:15 | Opening Ceremony |
| 12:15-12:30 | SHS Marching Band |
| 12:30-1:30 | The Temps Live |
| 1:30-2:00 | Xclusive Dance Crew |
| 2:00-2:30 | Punjabi Bhangra |
| 2:30-3:30 | Sticks and Stone Blues Band |
| 3:30-4:00 | Rondalla Puerto Rico |
| 4:00-5:00 | Thiossane African Dancers |
| 5:00-6:00 | Daniel Dye and the Miller Band |
TENT STAGE |
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| 11:00-11:30 | Tai Chi with David Wilcox |
| 11:30-12:00 | Project Jericho Bucket Band |
| 12:00-12:30 |
Opening Ceremony/Main Stage |
| 12:30-1:15 | Hayden C. Jackson, gospel pianist |
| 1:30-2:00 | The Rheinlanders German Band |
| 2:00-2:30 | Chinese Dance with Shihming |
| 2:30-3:00 | Zumba with Cindy Griffin |
| 3:00-3:30 | Egyptian Breeze |
| 3:30-4:00 | Spfld Line Dance & Urban Ballroom Group |
| 4:00-4:30 | Pamana Dance Group – Phil-Am Society |
| 4:30-5:00 | TAC Choir |
| 5:00-5:30 | set up for Imani Choir |
| 5:30-6:00 | Wittenberg’s Imani Gospel Choir |
STROLLING |
|
| 12:30-3:30 | Joseph Glenn – Steel Drummer |
| 1:00-4:00 | Mariachi Band Zelaya |
| 3:00-6:00 | Seefari |
| Chinese Dragon Dancers | |
Educational Tours to the Gammon House, Springfield’s Underground Railroad House
Leaving from in front of KeyBank at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Events on the Grassy Knoll
Children’s Activities Tent open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with hands-on activities
CultureJam Teaching Stage
12:30 p.m. Springfield High Band Drumline Interactive Demonstration
1:00 p.m. Try out Retro Aerobics with Linda Getz and friends
1:30 p.m. Mexican Dance Lessons with Beatriz Koehler and Mariachi Band Zelaya
2:00 p.m. Global Impact Stem Academy Music Class with Holly Diltz and her students
2:30 p.m. Hip Hop Dance Lessons with Xclusive Dance Crew
3:00 p.m. USS Jammers Sing Along with Guitar and Instrument Lessons
4:00 p.m. Belly Dancing Lessons – Egyptian Breeze with Janet Mueller and Amy Kuss
5:00 p.m. Mexican Pinata to close out the day
Heritage Center of Clark County Tent
Global Education and Peace Network Activities on the Grassy Knoll
11-1 p.m. Asian Cultural Activities
1-3 p.m. Muslim and Sikh Headwraps
3-5 p.m. African Headwraps
5-6 p.m. Mexican Pinata Party
INFO: www.springfieldohio.gov/culturefest
CITY HALL PLAZA
76 E. HIGH STREET
ADMISSION: FREE