T-R FILE PHOTOS — The fourth annual Culture Festival/Festival Cultural, which is moving from West End Park to downtown this year, will be held on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
The fourth annual Festival Cultural/Culture Festival celebrates diversity with food, dance and community. It will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday in downtown Marshalltown and is free and open to the public.
Organized by The Arts + Culture Alliance, with help from a variety of sponsors, the day will be filled with live music, dance, food trucks, kids’ activities and business tours. The event was previously held in the 13th Street District.
“Through kids’ activities and performances, many different cultures will be represented at this year’s Culture Festival. Specifically, in the performances attendees will experience,” said Alliance Executive Director Amber Danielson. “This year’s event is in partnership with the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA, Marshalltown Central Business District, Marshalltown Public Library and Immigrant Allies. Different from years past, the event will transition the location with the goal of highlighting and amplifying our culturally diverse businesses in our downtown. In addition to the performances and festivities, walking tours of our ethnic businesses and public art in Downtown Marshalltown will be offered. We invite the community to shop, dine and experience our cultural and vibrant community.”
Music and performances will span the globe and include representation from Mexico, Africa, Dominican Republic, and others.
At 1 p.m. will be Panamanian/Colombian duo Calle Sur.
“The group brings to life the rich diversity of Latin American music, challenges cultural preconceptions, and lifts spirits with the energy and beauty of its performances,” Danielson said.
Later in the day will be Trío de Colores performing traditional music from Mexico such as mariachi tunes, huapangos from Veracruz and timeless boleros. She added that the trio will include members of the Marshalltown High School Mariachi Band on a couple of numbers. Additional acts are being finalized.
YMCA-YWCA CEO Kim Jass-Ramirez said the Y for years has taken people on tours of local businesses. When Danielson reached out to her, she was eager to offer them during the Festival Cultural.
“It’s a great fit,” Jass-Ramirez said. “We’ve had declining participation in the tours since COVID, so we love the opportunity to kind of revive it, and to have it be part of a bigger festival really makes sense. We have so many cultures represented here in Marshalltown. I think people are really amazed when they go in and see what (these stores) have to offer.”
The walking tours will go on the half hour starting at 1 p.m., meeting first at the Alliance’s booth. The final tour will leave at 3:30 p.m. Participating businesses are: Golden Kayin Asian Store, La Michoacana, Ocean City, Abarotes La Salud, Adelina’s Restaurant, Supermarket Villachuato, Zamora Fresh Market and Golden Land Asian Food Inc. The public art stops — ideal for photo ops — will include: Tremont Mural, Marshalltown Selfie Mural, Paper Airplane + Sidewalk Poetry, Marshalltown’s Starry Night, Perspective, and Sports Plus Mural. Volunteers from Emerson will lead the tours.
Visit all of the businesses and be entered into a drawing for a free birthday party at the Y.
“You can do a pool party, we’ve got a fun bounce house that we do now for parties. We thought that’d be a good incentive for people,” she added.
Tacos La Cruz and Comal Kaxi are returning food trucks this year.
The presenting Sponsor is MEMBERS1st Community Credit Union. Supporting Sponsors are: JBS, Meet in Marshalltown/Nos Vemos En Marshalltown, A & A Concrete, La Carreta Mexican Grill, 1st Rate Real Estate, US Cellular, El Portal Mexican Restaurant, and Mtown Proud – Tyler Peschong Agency.
“The expansion and addition of this year’s event will increase the impact to our community beyond the one-day event and encourage residents and visitors to support our vibrant and cultural businesses in Downtown Marshalltown,” Danielson said. “In alignment with the City of Marshalltown’s Arts & Culture Master Plan, the Culture Festival seeks to foster meaningful connections and cultivate a culturally vibrant and welcoming community.”
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair. East Main Street will be closed on the block in front of the courthouse from Center Street to First Avenue.
For more information, Danielson may be reached at: director@artsandculturealliance.org or 641-752-2787. To see a map of all the stops on the walking tours, visit the Arts+Culture Alliance on Facebook.
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- T-R FILE PHOTOS — The fourth annual Culture Festival/Festival Cultural, which is moving from West End Park to downtown this year, will be held on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
