RESTON, VA — The Reston Multicultural Festival will mark its 25th anniversary Saturday, with music, dance, art and cultural activities from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Reston Town Center.
The event will feature more than 20 performances across three stages, along with more than 60 artisan vendors and community organizations on Market Street, according to a release from Reston Community Center.
Reston residents Ellen Graves and Margaret Boyd envisioned the festival as a way to reflect the community's growing diversity. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized the anniversary with an Aug. 25 proclamation honoring the festival's role in promoting diversity, inclusion and community connection.
"As someone who came to this country as a refugee, this means something very personal to me," Reston Community Center Executive Director BeBe Nguyen said when accepting the proclamation on the center's behalf. "I know what it means to leave one home and to be welcomed into another."
Performances will take place at the Pavilion Stage, the Park Stage at Reston Town Square Park and the Cultural Conversations Stage on Library Street. Festivalgoers will have opportunities to engage with artists, and pop-up performances are planned along Market Street throughout the day.
"Music from the Crooked Road" will feature Elsa Howell, Gina Dilg and the Mustard Cutters, and Eddie Bond & the New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters, highlighting musical traditions rooted in Virginia.
RELATED: Fairfax County Honors Reston Multicultural Festival's 25th Anniversary
Other featured artists include the New York Korean Performing Arts Center, Billy McComiskey, Patrick Olwell, Gerry Milnes and CULTURE featuring Kenyatta Hill.
Artisan vendors and community organizations will offer crafts, cultural activities and family-friendly experiences along Market Street.
The opening ceremony will include the presentation of the colors and the national anthem performed by the South Lakes High School Chorus. Reston Community Center Board of Governors Chair Bill Bouie will deliver opening remarks, and Beverly A. Cosham will conclude the ceremony by leading "God Bless America."
Reston Community Center presents the festival in partnership with Reston Town Center Association, with BXP serving as co-host. Reston Association coordinates volunteers, while the National Council for the Traditional Arts and the Virginia Folklife Program provide artistic support.
The full schedule, vendor list and information about community activities are available on the Reston Multicultural Festival website.
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