The Multicultural Festival has been held annually since 1998, and this year’s edition is set for Aug. 21. Winny Lin has been a longtime volunteer with the festival, even though she has lived in Compton, California, since 2014.
Lin said when she was in town she would raise money, talk to sponsors and recruit entertainers for the festival, and now that she’s away, she helps where she can.
Debbie McCoy, chair of the festival, said that it’s always exciting working with Lin, whether it be in Owensboro or across the nation.
“She’s always been right there ready to help. And she’s got contacts, everywhere in town, even after all these years,” McCoy said.
McCoy said that she is thankful for the effort Lin, one of the founding members, has put into the festival since its inception in 1998.
Lin said when she came up with the idea, she didn’t know how to materialize it into the annual festival we see now. She noted along the way it wouldn’t be possible without people like McCoy, Carolyn Greer, Susan Gesser and several others .
“All we try to do is to help other people understand different cultures,” Lin said.
They do this in several different ways, Lin said. She said that one year, people from China’s booth did a Chinese dragon dance and parade. Another time, she said the person representing the African American booth brought a jazz group to teach about the history of jazz music in Black culture.
To Lin, although she is across the country the event is still important to the people of Owensboro.
“I’m very thankful that the community of Owensboro has embraced this because it does serve a purpose,” Lin said. “There are people who still don’t understand the love of different cultures, the beauty.”
