The 22nd Owensboro Multicultural Festival kicks off Saturday with the theme “We’re In This Together,” although this year’s event will be virtual.
This ministry of First Presbyterian Church, which over the years has drawn thousands of people to the church’s lawn for food, music, and intercultural learning, will be held online this year due to health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Festival organizers are planning to use technology — including streaming video and social media — to highlight the food, music, art, and people that make Owensboro unique. The festival can be accessed on Facebook.
The online festival will feature:
- Art – exhibits by local artists such as K.O. Lewis, Barney Elliott, and more; at-home multicultural craft projects; a collaborative chalk art
- Music – video performances by area musicians; a virtual choir; a livestreamed world music DJ set
- Food – recipes from neighbors representing a variety of cultural backgrounds
- People – video profiles, cultural exhibits, and more
Debbie McCoy, Chair of the Owensboro Multicultural Festival Committee, said she was disappointed when she realized early in the planning process there would not be a festival like normal.
“I have always maintained that the festival is a starting place for conversations that can lead to healing in our community — healing that is all the more urgent this year in the wake of the pandemic and strained relationships in our community and in our world,” McCoy said. “I am so proud of my team and my church for finding a way to once again start conversations of healing this year.”
Jeff Moles, Director of Christian Education & Mission at First Presbyterian Church, said he is proud to help provide the opportunity for people to encounter neighbors who are different from themselves.
“First Presbyterian Church hopes the Multicultural Festival is an important step toward creating a community that is more just, compassionate, and welcoming,” he said
