Published on: Saturday, May 12, 2018 News

Celebrate Takoma: The block is hot in our little melting pot!

 

UPDATE: Due to the  inclement weather today (5/19),  the Celebrate Takoma Festival will be moved inside Piney Branch Elementary School.   While no parking restrictions will still be enforced,  Grant Avenue and Maple Avenue will not be closed to traffic .

What is a festival?  A festival is an event celebrated by a community focusing on a specific characteristic of that community and its cultures. Celebrate Takoma fits this definition to a tee!

Takoma Park is a patchwork quilt of diverse people with their own varying cultures and backgrounds. This is what makes our community so special. Where else can you experience Latin American, West African, Middle Eastern, European, and so many more cultures in under 3 square miles?

Join us on May 19th from 4-7 pm as we honor all these amazing cultures at our annual festival, Celebrate Takoma! Now in its 6th year, this community festival sponsored by the City of Takoma Park Recreation Department, will turn Maple Avenue into a fun and lively micro melting pot.

This festival, held between Philadelphia and Lee Avenues,  features music, dance, food, games, children’s crafts all from around the world. There will also be representatives from different community groups and businesses from around the City, and the annual presentation of the Azalea Awards. The Azalea Awards will be presented to volunteers and activists who have been selected as the year’s best at improving life in the greater Takoma community.  Black Masala will kick off the event with a sampling of international music and the steel pan band Panquility will close out Celebrate Takoma with the shake-shake-shake percussion, which is always a fan favorite!

Celebrate Takoma fosters community pride, introduces people to new cultures and strengthens relationships between residents and neighbors alike. It leads to new friendships and allows for a community that is strong in diversity to come together as one. So bring a lawn chair or blanket and joins us for an evening of unity and fun!

For more information including street closures visit https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/recreation/celebrate-takoma-festival/