During 2022's event, Adriana, Jesus Jr. and Dulce of the Yolihuaní Aztec Dancers perform.
MONROE — This Saturday, folks have the chance to gather to celebrate cultures.
The event is called Belonging, and it is happening Sept. 9 from noon to 6 p.m. at Sky River Park.
The all-volunteer Monroe Equity Community organization is putting it on as a way to bring the community together.
“Belonging celebrates the cultural diversity of our community through sharing of tradition, food, dance and music,” said Bridgette Tuttle, a member of the organization’s board and its Summer Events Coordinator.
Performances and demonstrations taking the stage through the day include Taiko drummers, lion dancers, mariachi musicians, Aztec cultural dancers and a martial arts demonstration.
A Round Dance led by local Indigenous tribes will conduct an opening ceremony at 12:30 p.m. The event also closes with a Round Dance at 5:30 p.m.
Event emcee DJ Big Rez of the Lummi tribe will be spinning tunes in between performances. He’ll also share music of cultural significance, Tuttle said.
Belonging has food and activities going on throughout the afternoon. Food trucks to be there will be Yummy Catch, Black Sea, Avery’s Chicken & Waffles, Sugar + Spoon and BZ’s Mini Donuts.
There’s going to be a bubble tent, a reading area, lawn games, Jump Rattle and Roll will bring its foam cannon and the park itself has a playground. There will also be 40 vendors, Tuttle said.
Mayor Geoffrey Thomas, Monroe Equity Community members and student performers from The Goddard School of Monroe open the event at noon.
This is the second edition of the event. Monroe Equity Community ran a similar event last September. 2022’S event was unluckily held the same day the Bolt Creek Fire broke out near Skykomish which filled the local air with wildfire smoke.
