Dancing, drums, dinner and more, all reflective of a variety of cultures, were on offer at the PeopleFest! Party held at Staring Lake Park on Sunday, July 28. The PeopleFest! Party, held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, is the kickoff for the annual PeopleFest event, which runs through Aug. 4 and is intended to bring residents together and highlight diversity within the community.
Those attending Sunday’s PeopleFest! Party were able to watch performances at the Staring Lake Amphitheatre, which included Mexican and Carpatho-Rusyn Slovak folk dance, traditional Chinese lion dance and drummers, drummers performing in the Middle Eastern tradition, traditional Hmong dance, classical bharatanatyam dance from India, Somali dance, and Turkish, Bulgarian and Baltic music.
Food trucks were on hand offering treats, including tacos and Tibetan dumplings, boba tea and ice cream.
People had the chance to “check out” a volunteer from the Human Library for a conversation that shared a different perspective from their own, try their hand at drawing Chinese characters at the Eden Prairie Chinese Association booth, and place stickers on a world map to indicate their desired travel location at the Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) booth.
Other exhibitors at the PeopleFest! Party included the India Association of Minnesota, Sewa-Asian Indian Family Wellness, Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, EP High School Exchange Year and Youth for Understanding, Taraangini School of Dance and Makam Baklava band, Maria’s Voice domestic violence prevention education organization, League of Women Voters, Southwest Transit, Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission and Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation, Eden Prairie Schools Community Education and the Eagle Express Bus, and the Eden Prairie Police and Fire Departments.
PeopleFest! continues with a variety of events throughout the week. See EPLN’s previous article on PeopleFest for details.
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