33rd Multicultural Festival set for Saturday, May 19 on Oakes lower field

The band Balance and the Traveling Sound

Balance and the Traveling Sound will headline the 33rd annual Multicultural Festival at UCSC.

Scene from a Multicultural Festival at UC Santa Cruz

The 33rd annual Multicultural Festival will begin at noon, Saturday, May 19 on the lower field at Oakes College.

The Multicultural Festival is one of the most popular annual events in the Monterey Bay area.

This all-day celebration of many cultures offers live entertainment and a wide variety of traditional ethnic cuisine. Each year, the Multicultural Festival brings together more than 5,000 participants to dance, eat and celebrate many of the cultures represented at UCSC.

This year Embracing the Beauty of Difference Through Culture marks the 33rd year for the Multicultural Festival. it will take place Saturday, May 19, from noon to 6 p.m. on the Lower West Field - Oakes Lower Lawn at UC Santa Cruz.

As part of an Anniversary Festival, the Festival Planning Committee has a special program planned. Performances will include Balance and the Traveling Sounds, Sambada, and UCSC student performances such folkloric and hip hop dancers. Admission is free. Alcohol is not permitted.

Sponsoring organizations serve a wide variety of traditional ethnic foods reflecting UCSC’s diverse student population. From Vietnamese pate sandwiches to tostadas to Halo Halo Ice, the food booths of the Multicultural Festival always sell out.

The annual Multicultural Festival is sponsored by 17 of UCSC’s student organizations with the goal of promoting an appreciation of California’s cultural diversity.
The campus and local communities are invited to enjoy this wonderful cultural celebration. Come dance—and enjoy entertainment and foods from diverse cultures.

More information is available from Student Organization Advising and Resources (SOAR) at 831-459-2934