Expo brings world to Bloomington

Bryan Park will be buzzing with cultural fusion Saturday.

Bloomington Multicultural Expo attendees can experience a taste of the Moon Festival, the Soul Food Festival, Festival Latino and International Festival Village.

The Moon Festival is a celebration of the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar, also known as the “Harvest Moon.” The Moon Festival will also incorporate
Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, which falls on Oct. 17 this year.

One of the theories of how the festival came about is when China was under Han rule, citizens figured out a new way to send secret messages.

According to the folk tale, they put the messages into moon cakes, which led to the Moon Festival.

The event also includes the Bloomington Black Business and Professional Association’s Soul Food Festival, La Casa Latino Cultural Center’s Festival Latino and the International Festival Village.  Each festival has its own village.

In past years, all of the festivals took place at the same time, said Juan Berumen, La Casa graduate assistant.

“When the festivals are done separately, there tends to be a modest turnout,” Berumen said. “This will help increase turnout and help some of the vendors.”

The event provides a taste of several cultures.

Performances throughout the Bloomington Multicultural Expo include international folk dancers, Hawaiian dance, traditional Indian dance, the traditional South African dance, Gumboot, jazz music, flamenco dance, hip-hop, rap and Turkish music.

“It will be really interesting to see what everyone brings,” said Mai-Lin Poon, graduate assistant at the Asian Culture Center. “It is a really fun way to learn someone else’s culture. Granted, it’s a small portion of it, but at least you learn a little something rather than just being unaware.”

It is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Bryan Park, 1001 S. Henderson Street. The event is free, except for food and some activities.