If you want to travel the world but lack the time or money, you can visit 70 countries without leaving Alabama.
Going to the Mobile International Festival this Saturday will give you a sense of the people and cultures of the world who have made their way to Alabama.
You can experience the dress, food, music, dance, art, crafts, languages, geography, and exotic merchandise of the 70 countries that have a presence in Mobile.
Mobile is a multi-cultural community, a cosmopolitan city. These peoples and cultures from afar, now American folk and Alabama folk, showcase their roots at the Mobile Fairgrounds, “The Grounds.”
There are two reasons for Mobile’s international flavor.
Mobile is Alabama’s port city, the site of international commerce daily. Some of those international trading partners have built offices and homes in the Port City.
Two, Mobile’s history and heritage have strong influences from our forebears in France, Spain, Mexico, Greece, Africa, Italy, Lebanon, Germany, Ireland, Vietnam, South Korea, the Far East, the Caribbean and others —70 in all.
Details on the 2024 festival can be found here.
Tickets can purchased at the gate or ordered online here.
Ticket prices are as follows: Students, $5; Senior citizens, $10; and Adults (12 and over), $12.
This year’s Mobile International Festival will be its 41st. Celebrants will come from 70 countries, all now living in Alabama. You are invited.
The fest has operated annually since 1983 and is believed to be the longest-running festival on the Gulf Coast. The fest provides the general public with a taste of the international scene and educates Alabama students.
On the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before the public festival, busloads of students experience the festival’s offerings. Many call it their favorite field trip of their school years. What a way to study geography.
Wednesday – Elementary School Day
Thursday – Middle School Day
Friday – High School Day
Saturday – General Public Day
There is a stage with dancers and musicians from many cultures, including Irish folk dancers, Japanese kettle drummers and exotic belly dance groups.
Each country has a display, usually a table or booth, with food or items of its culture. Alabama folks from each heritage accompany the table of their origin. Every day, Alabama folks living and working among us return to their “mother country.” We can go with them for a quick visit.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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