by Shawn Nowlin
Local Colors is one of the most anticipated annual heritage celebrations in Virginia. This year’s festival, free and open to the public as usual, attracted thousands to Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke on May 16.
For Executive Director Lisa Spencer, the goal of the event is simple: to celebrate and learn about different cultures through music, arts, food and traditional attire.
“When people come to an event like this, they learn in unique and accessible ways. It chips away at some of our misunderstandings or misconceptions we may have of those we differ from on the surface level,” she previously said.
Continuing, she added, “We can’t get a better understanding of each other if the extent of our conversations is just an occasional ‘hello.’ When families show up, it is important that they not only learn, but also have fun. So many have told me that this is their favorite annual event because of everything it represents.”
Between the opening ceremony at 11 a.m. and the closing remarks around 5 p.m., nearly a dozen acts were part of the stage program.
In alphabetical order, they were: Bangladesh Folk Dance Group, Bhangra Kids, Carol Joy & TriColor, Dream Dance International Team, Indian Folk Beats, JCRV Japan Connection, Mauro Rojas, North Cross Spanish Program, Santiago Prada, Shaolin Dragons and Sydney Dayyani.
“My favorite part of the day was watching the different acts showcase their talents,” Charlotte Peterson said. “You can tell that much preparation went into this. For the last decade, my family and I have taken this trip from our home in North Carolina. Every time that we set an expectation, it gets surpassed.”
The international beer truck was a big hit this year, too.
In addition to drawing a large crowd, the festival also boosted local businesses and created a sense of community camaraderie. Often overlooked voices were amplified with the scenic view of nature’s beauty in the background.
“I took the festival as an opportunity for my two teenagers to learn something new. Both were tasked with asking questions to learn at least five facts. We discussed what they discovered over dinner that night,” Ebony Smith said.
Coinciding with America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s festival took on additional importance. “It is possible to honor our nation’s accurate history while bringing families and communities together. The Local Colors Festival is proof positive of that,” Pooja Kumar said.
More information can be found by visiting localcolors.org.
