Skokie Festival of Cultures Celebrates 25 Years

Submitted by the Skokie Park District

More than 25,000 people are expected to celebrate the 25th Annual Skokie Festival of Cultures on May 16 and 17, where they will savor exotic tastes, listen to the traditional sounds of ethnic music, and experience the dozens of cultures, languages and traditions that make up the Skokie community.

“Not only will visitors to the festival experience more than three dozen cultural booths,” said Festival Planning Committee Chairman Jon Marquardt. “Attendees will also enjoy two days of ethnic folk music and dance, a wide range of food, unique arts and crafts, and a merchandise marketplace. In addition, this year we will hold a two hour international short film festival at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 15, the night before the festival.”

The 2015 edition of the festival will also feature the Whole Foods Market International Beer Tasting from 12-7 p.m. on Saturday and from 12-5 p.m. on Sunday. A special performance by Chicago Music Awards winner, Funkadesi, will begin on Saturday at 6 p.m.

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Skokie’s unique cultural journey launches at Oakton Park in Skokie and will kick off when visitors receive their free “Passport to the World,” the official guide to all festival happenings. The passport will include a schedule of hourly ethnic performances, educational information, and a festival map, which will help attendees make their way through the 19-acre park full of attractions. The opening ceremonies will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. on the World Showcase stage.

The festival will also offer something for the younger set, with a children’s area featuring hands-on exhibits and a place for children to learn and create.

The 37 cultures represented at the festival will range from Bulgarian to Belizean, Italian to Iraqi — and Pakistani to Polish.

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Oakton Park is located at the corner of Oakton Street and Skokie Boulevard in Skokie, at 4701 Oakton St. The festival will begin at 11 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, ending at 7 p.m.

The 25th Annual Skokie Festival of Cultures is sponsored by NorthShore University HealthSystem, First Bank & Trust – Skokie, the Illinois Arts Council, State Farm, Whole Foods Market, Sundance Vacations, Cornfields, and the Rotary Club of Skokie Valley. The event is organized by the Skokie Park District, the Village of Skokie, and the Skokie Public Library.

For more information about the festival, call the Skokie Park District, (847) 674-1500 or visit the official Skokie Festival of Cultures Web site at www.SkokieCultureFest.org.