Nations of the world celebrated at Multicultural Festival

Members of the Menifee Taiko Drumming Group perform at the Multicultural Festival. (Staff photos)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Menifee residents gathered Saturday to celebrate the community’s diversity and learn about nations around the world in the annual Multicultural Festival.

The event, held under sunny skies in Central Park, included performances by music and dance groups, displays in tribute to foreign nations, and food and craft vendor booths. Residents enjoyed strolling through the park and interacting with those hosting displays.

Performing groups on stage included the Pacific Islander Art and Entertainment Group; Mas Movimiento Latin Dance Company; Menifee Taiko Drumming Group; O’Connor Kennedy Academy Irish Dancers; Paloma Valley High Polynesian Dance Club; German Dancers; and a Native American Flute Artist.

Local resident and realtor Cynthia Nemelka answered questions at the Germany booth about that country, including inventions created there such as the helicopter, adhesive tape, the speedometer, radar system, and contact lens. The display included information on the Grimms’ Fairy Tales, the result of trips through the countryside by the Grimm brothers, documenting stories that were handed down from generation to generation.

Nemelka served an 18-month Mormon mission in Southern Germany. Her father, Larry, also served a mission in Germany and her son recently returned from a German-speaking mission.

Vivian Stancil and her husband entertained visitors to a booth paying tribute to South Africa. Residents of Menifee for about a year and half, they showed guests dolls in native dress, a diamond from a mine in South Africa, and other items. Stancil is also a Senior Olympic swimmer.

Another booth was run by members of the Paloma Valley High School Asian Culture Club, which meets every other week to discuss topics that increase awareness of Asian countries. The Club has about 30 members. The Paloma Valley Polynesian Dance Club also maintained a booth.

Other countries represented in the display booths were the Philippines, Costa Rica, Somalia and Japan.

Dolls, coins and maps help tell the story of South Africa at one of the booths on Saturday.

 Different cultures were represented in this clothing booth manned by one of the vendors.

The Mas Movimiento Latin Dance Company performed several dances.

 

The beauty, culture and inventions of Germany were displayed in a colorful booth.

 Members of the Paloma Valley High Asian Culture Club answered questions from curious guests.

 Japanese culture was represented by many colorful objects displayed for guests to see.

 Lots of guests had questions about the African nation of Somalia.

 The Pacific Island Art and Entertainment Group was the first to perform on Saturday.