Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Festival

August 09, 2012

Within a week, the 33rd Annual Ethnic Enrichment Festival begins at Swope Park. "Experience, Indulge, Discover, Celebrate" are the words on the poster to describe this event that begins on Friday, August 17 and goes through Sunday, August 19, 2012.

Over 60 cultures will be represented through food, music, dance, and crafts. I especially like to see the colorful traditional costumes as groups dance on stage. I’ve performed with the Scandinavian Dancers of KC for many years and appreciate the long hours of practice it takes to perform at this event. You can enjoy everything from Scottish bagpipers and Jamaican steel drum bands, to Japanese martial arts and Welsh Folk dancing.      

Oh my……..then the food. With over 40 food booths, you can experience a "Taste from Around the World" with delightful food from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and countries in-between. How about trying Abelskiver and Kringla from Norway? Spanakopita and Baklava Sundae from Greece? Chicken Satay from Malaysia or Mango Shake from India? These are some of my favorites. 

There’s something for everyone to enjoy. Where can you go to experience all this diversity in one place, in Kansas City? This is one of the largest and most diverse ethnic festivals in the US. Why not put the Ethnic Enrichment Festival on your calendar? It promises to be a rich and memorable experience.

If you would like to learn more about different cultures and their customs, there are many Library books in the 900s that you could check out. Also, if you would like to hear the sounds of traditional music from other countries, go to the Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Online (one of our databases).This is a comprehensive online resource devoted to music of all the world's peoples. 

Susan H.
Raytown Branch