PRESS RELEASE FOR THE 34th ROCHESTER WORLD FESTIVAL 2009
“ONE WORLD – MANY CULTURES”

On Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, 2009 the Rochester International Association presents its 34th World Festival at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minnesota.

The Festival opens Friday evening at 7 PM with a colorful show of performances including dancing, singing, and music by performers in their native costumes from around the world. Admission is $ 8 for adults, $4 for students and children, $20 for families.

On Saturday, from 10 am to 3 pm, the Festival features a full day of activities including the Parade of Nations, dozens of cultural displays from around the world representing the rich diversity of our city and region, an International Buffet of ethnic foods in the cafeteria, continuous music and dance performances, a new Market Place, and wide variety of children’s activities. Admission is free.

The World Festival began as a bicentennial event in 1976 and is now in its 34rd year of celebrating the cultural diversity of the Rochester area. It has become the largest multi-cultural event in Minnesota south of the Twin Cities, attracting thousands of visitors and hundreds of participants.

To participate or volunteer or for questions, please call Herta at 280-8319 or e-mail at hmatteson@hotmail.com

Download the World Festival 2009 registration form to tell us how you’d like to participate. Please print it out and send it in before March 30, 2009, so that we can properly accommodate all participants. If you plan on selling food, download the Food Vendor registration form. Our mailing address is: 2500 ValleyHigh Drive NW, Rochester, MN, 55901.

The World Festival 2009 Planning Committee has been meeting since October 2008, and there are only 2 months left before the World Festival is upon us. If you are planning on participating in the World Festival, it will be very beneficial for you and your organization to attend these meetings. The remaining meetings are: Feb 4, Feb 18, Mar 4, Mar 18, and Apr 1. All the meetings will be held 7pm at the Charter House, 3rd Floor meeting room. These dates are also posted to our online events calendar.

Please see our RIA United Way page for a listing of all our volunteer needs and positions to fill.

Hi Friends/Members,

We’ve got a quick announcement to make. I’m sure you’ve heard about Facebook already, and so have we. It’s been in the works for a while now and we are proud to finally announce that RIA has a presence on Facebook. Please visit our official RIA group page on Facebook. We also have a RIA Causes page on Facebook, where you can donate to our cause via credit card.

We normally would make these announcements in our printed newsletter, but now that we’ve gone green, we’re posting them here. Many of these events are also on our RIA Events Calendar page. You may add these events to your own calendar from there.

Latino Fest, Saturday, September 27, from noon to 4PM – East Side Shelter near Broadway at East Soldiers Field. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held inside the West Silver Lake Shelter (next to the fire department). More info.

2009 Rochester World Festival Meeting, Wednesday, October 1, 7PM – World Festival meetings for participants and leaders take place on the first Wednesday evening of each month at 7pm, 3rd floor meeting room at Charter House. All RIA Board members and interested participants are invited to attend this first meeting.

Mayor’s International Reception at City Hall, Thursday, October 16, 7PM – Invite any international persons that you know. If you know of a large group coming, please let Herta know at 280-8319.

International Speakers Luncheons at the YMCA, 11:45AM to 1PM – Here’s the upcoming lineup of speakers. * October 8: Nadia Gajic focusing on her book on Bosnia. * November 12: Herta Matteson with Impressions of Papua New Guinea * December 10: Jackie Johnson talks about Kwanzaa. Starting in October, the cost will be $9 for RIA/YMCA members and $10 for non-members.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Congregational Church, November 27.

Salsa dancing lessons, put on by the Rochester Salsa Community, take place throughout the year. (www.rochestermnsalsa.com)