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Ethnic Fest unites Tacomans of all cultures and colors

By Matt Nagle

Tacoma Weekly
mattnagle@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: July 24, 2008

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable and satisfying summertime festivals in Tacoma is Ethnic Fest, happening July 26 and 27 at Wright Park. Now in its 22nd year, Ethnic Fest is truly a community event in that it provides the perfect opportunity for the South Sound’s many cultures and nationalities to come together for an afternoon of fun and unity within the oasis of Wright Park, which will be looking its finest after the recent completion of reconstruction projects that rejuvenated many parts of the park.

Metro Parks’ Lori Crace is coordinator for Ethnic Fest. “It’s Tacoma’s best giant block party,” she said. “We all get together and celebrate our differences and what we have in common, and appreciate what is special and unique about other cultures.” Involved in the planning of numerous festivals in Tacoma each year, Crace said Ethnic Fest is one of her favorites. “It has a really welcoming, easygoing vibe. People are just happy there.”

Ethnic Fest offers many performances on two stages throughout both days of the festival, representing cultures from around the world that also have a home right here in our own backyards. “We have top-notch entertainment all the way around,” Crace said. “I’m continually shocked at the high level of talent out there.” Some acts will be returning again this year while others will be performing at Ethnic Fest for the first time.

Opening the fest at 11:30 a.m. July 26 will be the traditional Sohoyini West African Dance group on the Multicare Main Stage, while belly dancers Shardoba get things going at noon on the Comcast Community Stage. From there, a new act will be featured every hour from a different culture: Latin, tropical, Gypsy, Celtic, Cambodian and Hawaiian, to name a few, along with contemporary Christian and gospel groups. The music ranges from jazz and traditional to drumming and harp and just about everything in between.

When asked for her opinion on which performers are not to be missed, Crace said all of them are excellent, but she named two of her personal favorites, one of which is Samoan dance group Tiene Tama Samoa that takes the Multicare Main Stage at 5 p.m. July 26. Made up of about 50 multi-generational dancers, Crace said she is always enthralled to see 2-year-olds dancing onstage with their grandparents when Tiene Tama Samoa performs. “I cannot watch them without tearing up,” she said. “It’s dynamic, and the energy is off the charts.”

Crace said another performer to watch out for is reggae artist Alex Duncan at 6 p.m. June 27 on the Multicare Main Stage. “He’s one of my absolute favorites,” she said. When Duncan takes the mic, “I’ve never seen so many people dancing at the same time,” Crace commented. (See an interview with Duncan on page 5 of this section.)

Something new this year will be more European representation onstage. Fathia & Les Troubadours play traditional French music at 1 p.m. July 26 on the Multicare Main Stage; Celtic/Irish band Jug of Punch plays at 3 p.m. the same day on the Comcast Community Stage.

For the first time, Ethnic Fest will spotlight urban dance, with New Beginnings Step Team doing their high-energy moves at 5:20 p.m. July 27 on the Comcast Community Stage.

Those wishing to discover more about the various performers’ traditional instruments and costumes can stop by the Cultural Arts & Demonstration tent to learn about some of the many ethnicities and groups that make up Ethnic Fest.

The kids will certainly not be bored during the fest, as a special International Fun Zone will be set up with hands-on arts and crafts activities and bounce houses. It will also feature its own line-up of talent performing hip hop dance, Philippine rural dance, an interactive puppet show and magicians.

Your tummy also will not be bored at Ethnic Fest. More than two-dozen vendors will be offering lots of terrific ethnic foods to satisfy practically any craving.

“You can just eat and eat until you can’t move,” Crace suggested. There will also be arts and crafts vendors selling unique items that one doesn’t find at other Tacoma festivals.

For a complete listing of everything that’s in tap for this year’s Ethnic Fest, visit www.metroparkstacoma.org.

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