The festival runs from Saturday, August 23, to Sunday, August 24, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
ST. LOUIS — The Festival of Nations is back at Tower Grove Park, bringing together food, music, dance and traditions from across the globe.
The region’s largest multicultural celebration runs Saturday and Sunday and is powered by the International Institute of St. Louis.
Earlier this year, the event’s future was uncertain after the Institute lost more than half its federal funding. But community support and local sponsors stepped up to make sure the festival went on.
The challenges facing Festival of Nations fit into a larger national backdrop of dwindling federal support for cultural and humanities programs.
Earlier this year, the White House directed a sweeping pause on disbursing federal grants and loans as it reviewed programs deemed inconsistent with its policy priorities, including diversity and equity initiatives, only to have courts swiftly block the freeze as unconstitutional.
“The whole community of St. Louis came forward and said, no, you have to have this festival. It means so much to so many people… and it really kind of made us realize that that is an extension of our mission,” said Terry Bates, spokesperson for the International Institute.
Organizers say it’s been a sprint to pull it all together.
“Honestly, I’m pretty proud. We’re all really excited. It was a lot of work… so many partners and sponsors and friends came through volunteers to help make this happen, and we got it going,” the spokesperson added.
One of the fan-favorite stops at this year’s festival is Island Delights, a family-run vendor serving what they call a “vacation in a cup.”
“We sell vacations in the cup. You can come to Festival of Nations today and grab a vacation with a free refill, and you can get it decked out… right now I’m buying lollipops, peach rings, trolleys, and then you get some edible fruit on the side as well,” said Charisma Akins.
The frozen drink, served in hollowed-out pineapples, is rooted in Trinidadian culture.
“This is really heartfelt because the owner is Trinidadian, so this really like speaks to his mother’s culture and you know the team we really embody that,” Akins said.
And business is booming: “I mean, we can’t sell the pineapples fast enough at this point. Bob Marley is the top, probably our number one seller. Bahama Mama number two. Miami Vice number three. They’re all sellers.”
For Akins, being here is about more than food but community. “I think this is so important because I think this just shows like the melting pot that this city really is, and I think a lot of people just don’t know that until they come and just see everything that has to offer.”
This year’s Festival of Nations features 180 food and retail vendors, from Mediterranean and Colombian street eats to handcrafted African goods and Indigenous art. New this year, guests can purchase VIP tickets for access to the Piper Palm House with air conditioning, private entertainment, food demos, and fast-pass lanes at select food vendors.
Performances span multiple stages, including music from Farshid Etniko, Shacko, Adam Maness Trio, and Tropical Mood, as well as dance showcases by St. Louis Cultural Flamenco, Alma de Mexico, and St. Louis Modern Chinese School.
Organizers say the focus this year is squarely on the immigrant communities who shape St. Louis. “We’re not just celebrating different cultures, but we’re also celebrating St. Louis itself and how St. Louis has been made better by these cultures,” the Institute’s spokesperson said.
Festival of Nations runs:
Saturday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission is free. VIP single-day passes are $80 and a weekend bundle costs $120.
For the full lineup and vendor list, visit their website.