If you want to travel the world but are short on time and money, you can visit 70 countries without leaving Alabama.
Going to the Mobile International Festival on Saturday, November 18 will give you a sense of the people and cultures of the world that call Alabama home.
You can experience the clothing, food, music, dance, art, crafts, languages and exotic goods of 70 countries, all found in Mobile.
The theme of the festival is “Your Passport to Adventure”.
Mobile is a multicultural community, a cosmopolitan city. These peoples and cultures from far away, now American and American, present their roots at the mobile exhibition center, “The Grounds”. 1035 Cody Road North, Mobile.
There are two reasons for Mobile’s international flavor. First, Mobile is Alabama’s port city, with daily international trade. Some of these international business partners have built offices and homes in the port city.
Second, Mobile’s history and heritage is heavily influenced by our ancestors from France, Spain, Mexico, Greece, Africa, Italy, Lebanon, Germany, Ireland, Vietnam , from South Korea, the Far East, the Caribbean and others. 70 in all.
Details on the 2023 festival are here.
Tickets can be ordered online or purchased at the door.
Prices are: Students, $5. Seniors, $11. Adults (12 years and over), $12.
This year’s festival will be a whopping 40th birthday party, 40th Annual Mobile International Festival. Celebrants will come from all 70 countries, all living right here in Alabama. You are invited.
The festival has been held annually since 1983 and is considered the oldest festival on the Gulf Coast. The festival not only gives the general public a taste of the international stage, but also raises awareness among Alabama students. On the Thursday and Friday before the public festival, busloads of students check out the festival’s offerings. Many call it their favorite field trip from school. What a way to study geography.
There is a stage with dancers and musicians from many cultures, including Irish folk dancers, Japanese kettle drummers and exotic oriental dance groups.
Each country has an exhibit, usually a table or booth, with food or artifacts from its culture. Alabama people of every heritage accompany the table of their origin. Every day, the people of Alabama who live and work among us return for a day to their “mother country.” We can accompany them for a quick visit.
Jim Zeigler is a former Civil Service Commissioner and State Auditor of Alabama. You can reach him for comments at (email protected).
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