Saturday May 14th you are invited to celebrate diverse cultures and network with other international multicultural enthusiasts outside at the Oswaldo A. B. Cantu Pan American Recreation Center 2100 E 3rd Street. There will be live entertainment from noon until 9:30pm. There will be numerous vendors selling food and drink and arts and crafts. There is a playground for your young ones. This is a FAMILY-FRIENDLY event! This will be the second year of our festival, and we are very excited to host again in 2016!

12pm-12:15 THANK YOU TO DAVIN BJORNAAS OF THE A.B. CANTU CENTER, TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, TO OUR VENDORS, TO OUR PERFORMERS, AND TO YOU!
12:15-12:30 Nepalese dance
12:30-1 Los Bohemios Perdidos
1-1:20 Ubuntu Capoeira Angola
1:30-2:15 Herman the German and Das Cowboy
2:15-2:45 Mrs. Snow and the Two-Tone Zydeco
2:45-3:30 Mazel Tov Kocktail Hour (klezmer)
3:30-4:15 Dekaworwor (African)
4:15-5 Maracatu Texas (Brazilian)
5-5:30 Esquina Tango class and demonstration (Argentinan)
5:30-5:50 Austin Dance India
5:50-6 Sashakti (Bollywood and Indian semi-classical)
6-6:30 Celtic Theater
6:30-7:10 The Executive Steel Band (Caribbean)
7:10-7:20 Lorene McHutcheon Stilwell (Scots Gaelic)
7:20-7:45 Sahara Dancers (belly dance)
7:45-8:30 Indimaj (Middle-Eastern / jazz fusion)
8:30-9 Lady Morgan (Celtic / classical)
9-9:45 Rattletree (Zimbabwe)

*Los Bohemios Perdidos perform folk music from a multitude of Latin American countries, namely Ecuador, Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay. https://www.facebook.com/losbohemiosperdidos/

*Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art practiced like a dance accompanied by the live performance of traditional songs on drums and berinbao (a traditional one-stringed instrument with a gourd resonator) with singing. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hW6Om-Gjg5M Capoeira Angola specifically pays homage to the African ancestry and culture of the art form in music, style and philosphy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TDFio7_YC8

*Herman the German is the Kaiser of Surf Polka. He and his band play punk rock oompa — rockabillly, polka and surf tunes. https://www.facebook.com/hermanthegermanatx

*Mrs. Snow and the Two-Tone Zydeco is a squeezebox and guitar duo that plays the music of southwest Louisiana.

*The Mazel Tov Kocktail Hour is a small Klezmer ensemble based out of Austin, Texas, that plays pre-WWII Eastern European, Yiddish, and Romani tunes. https://www.facebook.com/mazeltovkocktailhour/ and http://www.mazeltovkocktailhour.com/

*Dekaworwor is a world/afro style music band that was formed in Austin Texas and is lead by Gidi Agbeko a man from Ghana west Africa. The music is rich with positive energy, powerful messages,and great melodies. https://www.facebook.com/shrineaustin

*Maracatu Texas plays Maracatu in addition to many other popular Brazilian rhythms such as the coco, Candomblé, frevo, and ciranda. The group is not strictly traditional and uses various elements of other world musics in its arrangements. https://www.facebook.com/MaracatuTexas/

*Esquina Tango is a family-owned and operated community center, dance studio, and event venue in East Austin. Independent teachers offer classes in dance, exercise, language, and culture for adults and children. https://www.facebook.com/EsquinaTango/?fref=ts and https://www.facebook.com/esquinatangoatx?fref=ts and http://www.esquinatangoaustin.com/ Gustavo Simplis is a renowned tango dancer and instructor.

*Austin Dance India promotes the Bharata Natyam dance of India through a disciplined study of the technique and through performances and presentations. ADI philosophy maintains that lifelong values and character can be developed through the dedicated pursuit of classical Bharata Natyam dance. https://www.facebook.com/Austin-Dance-India-361589194698/?fref=ts and http://www.austindanceindia.com/

*Sashakti is a (501(c)(3) non profit organization. (15 students perform Bollywood and Indian semi-classical dance). As part of its mission to empower people, Sashakti works with families by providing a platform where families can come together, organize and participate in various community building activities.

*Executive Steel Band (ESB) plays all types of music on steel drums: Blues, Reggae, Calypso, Samba, Funk, Soca…, Happy Music! ESB encourages audience participation and is glad to officiate a fun fun fun Limbo contest for the kids — young and older. The band is known for its original Caribbean styling of steelpan, percussions, and bass guitar, with smooth vocal sounds, made famous in New Orleans. Watch LIVE: http://livestream.com/musicmadnessatx/ls15
http://www.executivesteelband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Executive-steel-band/119377294889249

*Lorene McHutcheon Stilwell is a seanachai – a storyteller in the Scots Gaelic tradition. She has performed at numerous festivals – long stories, short stories, legends, histories, & outright lies. She is a 3 time winner of the Texas storytelling associations liars contest. She is also a founder of a fledgling celtic theater group, which, this year, is concentrating on drama & poetry that celebrates the centennial of the Irish republic. “1916: The Rising” is a celebration in poetry and song of the events of the 1916 rebellion that led to Irish independence.

*The Sahara Dancers

*Indimaj interweaves musical forms across the Middle East, India and the West, and through its improvisations offers a transcendental musical experience. https://www.facebook.com/IndimajAustin/timeline and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGUzOn1Ftgw

*Lady Morgan is a classical, Celtic, and folk duo featuring Jeanette Chiffón Kezele on flute and Ruth Navarre on harp, violin, and vocals. They take their name and inspiration from Irish author Lady Morgan. A highly educated woman and passionate about her Celtic heritage, Lady Morgan used her popularity in London society to be a voice for the Irish people and culture. https://www.facebook.com/ladymorganmusic/

*Rattletree was voted Austin’s Best World Music Band 2015-16. Several musicians all playing wooden marimbas (xylophones) create a must-see live show experience of sound, light, and video that creates a state of ecstatic dance and tranceperform with video projection, lights, costumes, Rattletree members have dedicated their lives to learning the ancient rhythms that have been handed down for generations to awaken the soul through the trance-inducing music of Zimbabwe. By infusing these rhythms with the intensity of modern electronic dance music, they have that have left the most jaded electronic music fans speechless. Rattletree’s 2013 album release, “Joy” has received enthusiastic response, and they are currently touring regionally. More information at www.rattletree.com.

Participating Vendors (We will be adding numerous vendors to this list during the next couple of weeks):
1) Astrid’s Jewelry is unique and handmade with natural materials like iraca fiber, acai berry seeds, tagua nuts, orange peel, and various Colombian seeds. http://astridsjewelry.tumblr.com/ and
https://www.facebook.com/astridscolombianjewelry/?fref=nf
2) Palestine Online Store features handcrafts made by women’s cooperatives, as well as a variety of other products from the Holy Land. http://palestineonlinestore.com/
3) 5 Star Henna https://www.instagram.com/fivestarhenna/
4) ShaVanThe is a multicultural clothing brand. We love colors, we love print, we love changing lives. https://www.facebook.com/shavanthe/?fref=ts
5) Jenergie Naturals uses pure, ethically sourced ingredients, most of which are certified organic and fair trade to handcraft small-batch natural skin-care products. Ask about custom formulas made just for you! Scrubs, bath salts, herbal facial steams, men’s skincare/grooming, moisturizers, deodorant, baby & mama care, and more… https://www.etsy.com/shop/jenergienaturals
6) NicArte makes one-of-a-kind wooden bow ties out of reclaimed leftovers from the construction of classical & flamenco guitars in Nicaragua. https://www.etsy.com/shop/nicarte
and http://www.nicarte.com/
7) Tatiana Nikolova-Houston, Ph.D. reveals “sacred illuminations” based on Slavic manuscript decorative patterns, Eastern Orthodox prayers, Biblical and other inspirational and motivational quotes. She has participated in thirty seven exhibits (2009-2012), including juried, and solo exhibits nationally and internationally. Her work has received numerous awards. www.sacredillumination.com/
8) Jewelry and Art from Ukrainian artists — hand-painted jewelry, hand-painted ginger bread cookies, jewelry made with natural stones and beads, embroidery. https://www.facebook.com/UkrainianJewelry/ and
https://www.facebook.com/Handmade-by-Marianna-Zbanok-957604034257816/
9) Silk Trader – Turkish vendor
10) Apolonia Catering offers delicious Polish and European food — including the best pierogi in Austin! Apolonia uses organic and locally sourced ingredients. https://www.facebook.com/apoloniacatering/ and http://www.apoloniacatering.com/
11) Art of Bali http://artofbali.com/
12)KimbroughArt https://www.facebook.com/kimbroughart/ and http://etsy.com/shop/Kimbroughart
13) “Mamady [of Camara Afrikan Imports] just returned from a long buying trip throughout West Afrika with some new great pieces! He’s got authentic Afrikan glass beads, amber, INDIGO clothing, authentic traditional carvings, ceremonial implements, Kuba & mud clothe and more….” — Carl Webb
14) Texas Appleseed is a non-profit that focuses on various issues, such as education, criminal justice, and fair housing. https://www.texasappleseed.org/

The International Multicultural Festival (IMFEST) is centered on celebrating the uniqueness of the Austin Community by bringing different cultural groups together to learn, explore and celebrate each other and enhance unity among family. This festival is derived from the idea that we are all different and unique, and yet, we are all the same. We may look different, speak different languages, and hold different practices and beliefs. But when we look inside ourselves, we are still the same and there is still so much to learn and benefit from each other’s different culture. Multiculturalism is more than just the acknowledgment of a diverse cultural background. Here in Austin we witness the intertwining and interaction between cultures, local and international, and the positive influences they play on each other.

On the day of the main festival, there will be Music, Dance, Bands, Story Telling, Multicultural Performances, vendors from different multicultural vendors and many more. People normally wear their multicultural attire and it is such a colorful and cultural event.

The week heading to the festival, we will have kick off parties in different multicultural bars, restraurants, galleries etc. These kick off events will be in the form of parties, seminars, workshops, roundtable discussions on issues that have an impact on international and multicultural folks. Some of these discussions will be on the following topic:-
-International Languages,
-Immigration, Refugees and Race
-Travel and Tourism,
-Multicultural Art, Craft, Music, and Film,
-International Multicultural Fashion,
-Cultural Diversity,
-International Business
-Role of International Charities (Charities Away from Home, etc. We believe as a community we need to have different discussions on issues that truly are dear to multicultural folks and those who are enthusiast.

If you will like to sponsor, vendor, partner, volunteer, collaborate, host some of the kick off events, and or be involved any how and represent international and or multicultural agenda, Please reach out to office@imfestival.org or call 512 363 2814.

www.internationalmulticulturalfestival.org
www.imfest.net
http://www.meetup.com/International-Multicultural-Community/

https://www.facebook.com/events/450536165143184/