The 11th annual Multicultural Fest Wednesday, Oct. 1 takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. outside A. Lincoln Commons and at LLCC locations throughout the district.

Entertainment includes a variety of dance and music styles.  Calabash: Bashing, Mashing, Shredding, Mixing—A Repurposed and Recycled Explosive Musical Ride is the leading act for the Fest. This high-energy show uses repurposed items from 30- and 50-gallon barrels to pipes that were used for natural gas to tubs that were used for different powders.

11-11:20 a.m. – Calabash
11:25 a.m.-12:10 p.m. – Kenny Humble Trio
12:15-12:45 p.m. – LLCC Choir
12:50-1 p.m. – Lotus Fire Belly Dance Troupe

4-5 p.m. – Michael “Pure Heart” Hart, African banjo
5:05-5:25 p.m. – Tom Irwin and Theresa O’Hare—Sangamon Songs
5:30-6 p.m. – Springfield International Folk Dancers
Local restaurants are offering free food samples at the event. Restaurants participating from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. include: AZ-T-CA Mexican Grill, Clay’s Popeye’s Bar-B-Q, Gateway to India, Happy Sushi, Holy Land Diner and Hunan Chinese Restaurant. Participating from 4:30 to 6 p.m. are AZ-T-CA Mexican Grill and Holy Land Diner.

Among the many exhibitors and cultures participating are Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Dank German Club, Designer Images, LLCC Center for Academic Success, LLCC Student Government Association, LLCC Veterans Club, LLCC’s Green Center, Sister Cities Association, Spiritualism, Springfield Baha’i Communities, Springfield Commission on International Visitors and St. Anthony Orthodox Church-Greece.

Also, LLCC’s Litchfield, Taylorville, Beardstown and Jacksonville locations will celebrate with the following activities:

LLCC-Jacksonville: 10:30 a.m. to noon – Speaker Terry Ransom will present on the Underground Railroad. Noon to 1 p.m. – Blues/Jazz musician Robert Sampson will perform and there will be origami, Spanish flower and paper fan demonstrations and crafts. Free food from local area restaurants will be served.

LLCC-Litchfield: Noon to 1 p.m. – The PBS documentary video titled the “The Persuaders” will be shown in classroom A102.  In “The Persuaders,” FRONTLINE explores how the cultures of marketing and advertising have come to influence not only what Americans buy, but also how they view themselves and the world around them. While viewing the video, students will enjoy a light lunch consisting of a variety of ethnic foods.

LLCC-Taylorville: Noon to 1 p.m. – The PBS documentary video titled the “The Persuaders” will be shown in classroom 1120.  In the documentary, FRONTLINE explores how the cultures of marketing and advertising have come to influence not only what Americans buy, but also how they view themselves and the world around them. While viewing the video, students will enjoy a light lunch consisting of Albanian, Italian, Chinese and Mexican cuisines.

LLCC-Beardstown will have its activities Oct. 8: All Day – Various cultural awareness activities, noon to 1 p.m. – World Meal (pot luck featuring dishes from around the world), 1 p.m. – Native dress contest

The Multicultural Fest is sponsored by the LLCC Student Life Office and the L. Philip and Mary Kathryn Trutter Museum.