Don't miss Tacoma's Ethnic Fest at Wright Park

Ethnic Fest has been celebrating culture & community for over 30 years! Enjoy two full days of music, dance, art, and foods from around the world

By Morf Morford
Tacoma Daily Index

Since 1986 Ethnic Fest has become the premium showcase and largest local celebration of the many cultures and communities based in and around Tacoma. Consistently voted the best festival of the South Sound; this year Ethnic Fest takes place Saturday, July 27 – Sunday, July 28 from Noon to 7 pm at Wright Park in Tacoma.

This family-friendly, free festival has grown in size and hosts Kid’s Zones, hands-on cultural activities and experiences, performer stage, as well as numerous specialty arts and crafts, food, and information vendor booths. This year’s festival will also include a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, for Youth (15U) and Adaptive Recreation divisions.

For music and other performances, here’s the schedule for:

Main Stage

Saturday July 27

Okinawa Taiko Drums Troupe 12-1pm
IMAHE 1-2pm
Spirit of Ojah 2-3pm
Halau O’kealaakua Naniloa Mana’oakamai 3-4pm
Tacoma Refugee Choir 4-4:30pm
Maurice Iton 4:30-5pm
LANUOLA Samoa Dance Academy 5-5:45pm
Bryan Foster Band 6-7pm

There is nothing like an immersion into the food, music and traditions of the wide variety of cultures that call the South Sound home to remind us of the human abundance of our community. Photo: Morf Morford

Sunday July 28

Taiwanese Association of Washington 12-1pm
Indonesian Cultural Association 1-1:30pm
Russian Soul 1:35pm-1:55pm
Gospel Music & Performers 2-5:45pm:
Bria Manaway
WA State C.O.G.I.C. Choir
Tap Dance Duel
Maurice Iton
Washington Diamonds
Rosalynn Jones
Lion of Judah
The Headley Boys
DianaStarr: Liturgical Praise Dance/Ballet
April Shante
Tracie Davies
Steven Weems: House Band
Alex Duncan 6-7pm

Community Stage

Saturday July 27

Clay Martin Puppet Show 12-1pm
Vision of Eastside Step Team 1-2pm
Tacoma Dance Studio 2-3pm
Studio 6 Ballroom 3-4pm
African Drum Circle by Javoen Byrd of Awodi Drumming 4-5pm
DJ Smokey Wonder 5:30-7pm

Sunday July 28

Wayside Band and Siam Olympia Group 12-1pm
Clay Martin Puppet Show 1-2pm
Cambodia Traditional Dance Troupe Tacoma 2-3pm
Mariachi Lucero 3-4pm
Destiny Lucha Luchadores 4-6pm
Billy Ray Studio Hour 6-7pm

For food, crafts, clothes and unexpected inspiration, check out these booths –

Arts & Crafts Vendors:

Rated Immature-Entertainment
Jewelry By Design
Art Deity By Devona Roy
Custom Essentials Inc
Salish Style
Evelyn’s Options
Glasswing Studio
Henna Reflections
Ade Africana
Amandi African Artifacts
Native Spirit Craft
The Art Lady
Absolutely Entertaining
Kijiji Village Arts & Crafts
Indian Arts
Raju Harkishnani

Food Vendors:

B & M Italian Concessions
South African Food Affair
Topos/Tornado Potato
The Rolling Crust
Taco Girl
It’s Greek To Me
Johnny’s Ice Cream
Great Northwest Popcorn
The Ice Cream Lady
Lumpia Love
Josefinas Burrito Boy
Creative Soul
Picket Fence Corn Roasters
Ruca Food Truck LLC
Mississippi Style BBQ
Gateway To India
Bob’s BBQ
On the Grind
Creole Pierre’s
Nanna’s Manna
Southern Touch Meals

Information Vendors:

Mount Rainier National Park
Pierce Co. Juvenile Court
Mom’s Rising
Community Health Care
PCAF-Tacoma
Comics4Kids INC
NAACP Tacoma Branch
Tacoma PFLAG
Pierce Transit
Cascade Regional Blood Services
NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
Radio Tacoma
Clover Park Technical College
Evergreen State College
A Philip Randolph Institute
Pierce County Republican Party
Tacoma Community College
First Presbyterian Church
Pierce College
SCAN : Save the Children Action Network
Dave Purchase Project
Homeownership Center of Tacoma
YWCA Pierce County
Sons of Norway
Multicultural Child and Family and Hope Center
Partners for Action, Voice for Empowerment (PAVE)
Fed. Way Public Schools
Jabez Real Estate NW
Seventh Day Adventist
Tacoma Police
27th LD Democratic Org.
Washington Historical Soc.
Metro Parks Tacoma
Eckankar
Body & Brain Yoga Taichi
Tacoma Democratic Socialistsof America
Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare
Girl Scouts of America
City of Tacoma Fire Dept.
Molina HealthCare
WHYISLAM Islamic Circle of N. America
United for Peace
City of Tacoma- EnviroChallenger
Solid Waste Management