Cultura celebrates world cultures in downtown Howell
HOWELL – A celebration of world cultures will take place in downtown Howell this September.
Cultura will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28, from noon to 9 p.m. at the Howell Opera House, 123 W. Grand River Ave., in downtown Howell. The annual event celebrates culture from around the world through music, art and food, according to a press release from Cleary University.
This is the second year the event has been held and entry is free. The event is hosted by the Livingston Diversity Council and the Livingston Arts Council and is open to all ages.
Nicole Matthews-Creech, executive director of the Livingston Diversity Council, told Howell City Council at its Aug. 12 meeting that despite inclement weather, the event still attracted about 900 attendees throughout the day.
“All aspects of the event will help participants learn a little more about different cultures through dance, music, art and food,” Matthews-Creech said in the press release. “Cultura is an ideal opportunity to open minds and hearts to a greater understanding and deeper sense of global community – all on our downtown Howell streets.”
There will be two stages for performing artists, visual art on the walls and food truck vendors.
The music schedule is as follows:
Open-air stage:
- 12:45pm – Flint Scottish Pipe Band & Dancers (traditional Scottish music)
- 2:15 p.m. — Laurie Jarski, The Blues Aside Project (Folk/Classical)
- 3:30 p.m. – Loe Bautista (Indie Pop/Soul)
- 4:30 p.m. – Spinnovation Detroit (Circus Variety)
- 5:30 p.m. – Grace Theisen (Folk/Americana)
- 6:30 p.m. – Spinnovation Detroit (Circus Variety)
- 8:10 p.m. – The Island Guys – Caribbean/Reggae)
Indoor stage:
- Noon – AgawDilim (piano and Persian santoor)
- 1:45 p.m. – Karma Bellydance (Egyptian Dance)
- 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – Isabella Mansfield & Friends (poetry reading)
- 5:00 p.m. – Neelam’s Bollywood Dance Academy (Indian Dance)
- 6:00 p.m. – Dabke dance performance (Arabic dance)
- 7pm — Fantasia Ballet Folklorico (Mexican Dance)
- 19:40 — Tek-Mazter (Live DJ)
Visual artists include Cheyenne Bolin, Alex Choly, Troy Clark, Julie Griess, Sarah Grusin, Armayne Lyons, Jane Ryan, Carolyn Salvatore, Leann Underhill and Work Skills, Artisan Corner. All artists have items for purchase.
Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage
Food trucks available include Shaka Café, Reggae Foodie – Jamaican, Slappin’ Meats BBQ and Tantay Peruvian Cuisine.
A mocktail tasting will be held on the second floor of the Opera House from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Participants will learn how to make and taste three adult mocktails, a non-alcoholic beverage. Each mocktail will be served with food pairings. The cost is $35, with proceeds going to Cultura. Only 30 tickets will be sold. Tickets can be purchased online at culturacelebration.com.
— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.
