Special to GUIDON

A celebration of food, music, art and activities from around the world is on its way to downtown Rolla. The annual Celebration of Nations is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29.

Now in its third year, the festival is coordinated primarily by the Missouri University of Science and Technology’s Office of International Affairs, and was created to celebrate the cultural diversity that makes Rolla unique to the Ozarks. 

Events begin with a parade at 11 a.m. that begins at the Havener Center on the Missouri S&T campus. The parade route winds through the campus and downtown Rolla, concluding on 9th Street at the downtown festival lot and band shell, where every participating country will be recognized in a ceremony similar to the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.

Following the parade, the festival will be held in Rolla’s downtown festival park, and will include a variety of authentic crafts and international foods from around the world available for purchase. Most food offerings are priced between $1 and $5, and visitors can experience a diverse international menu that includes items such as French crepes, spicy dishes from India, America barbecue and an array of Chinese, Thai, Taiwanese, Pakistani, Mexican, Columbian and African dishes.

Activities abound for all ages, including calligraphy, face painting, sand art, a dunk tank, paper fan decorating, origami, calligraphy, henna tattoos, children’s activities, bounce houses and more.

Visitors of all ages can take a virtual trip around the world at the festival, including a tour of an authentic tent from Saudi Arabia, complete with sand, camels, dates and tea served by Missouri S&T students. Attendees can also visit numerous cultural displays hosted by the university’s international student associations and groups from a variety of countries.

Children attending the Celebration of Nations can also receive a festival “passport,” which they can have stamped as they visit booths that reflect the cultures and customs of various countries.

According to the festival website, musical performances begin at 12:15 p.m., and include music the Springfield Kiltie Band, the banana Pan Oil Band, an “International Idol” competition and more.

The Celebration of Nations is free and open to the public. For more information, including a complete schedule of events, visit the festival website at nations.mst.edu.

(Information provided by the Missouri S&T Office of International Affairs.)