For years, multicultural festivals have been talked about in Vacaville. That story will come true this weekend.
Featured by City, Vacaville’s first multicultural festival, it features music, dance, crafts and food from local groups representing the cultural heritage.
“It started a long time ago, so it’s really exciting to see it land this year, and do we need something like this?” says Christine Milicken, special events and cultural and arts coordinator.
The Solano County Association of China will be holding a martial arts demonstration. Harau Hula ‘o ku’ulei Cultural & Dance Academy plays traditional Hawaiian hula.
For cooking, Shura’s Kitchen, La Branpia, Kona Ice and Raguagua offer a variety of cooking options.
What is the inspiration for this event for Miliken, after travelling to the Elk River three years ago, for their well-established, popular multicultural festivals? “It was amazing to see the community come together. I was like, ‘I want that from Vacaville,” she says.
Local singer Ramana Vieira is excited to share Portuguese heritage in her hometown. She closes the event with a performance from Fado.
Since she first moved to Vacaville six years ago, Vieira has been listening to the multicultural festival of her works. Now she’s excited to be part of the first one, she says.
Fado, a musical style recognized as a Portuguese icon, is characterized by its melancholy tunes and pointed lyrics. Vieira calls it “sea music.”
When she was growing up, Fado was the music from Vieira’s home. “Through penetration I was exposed,” she says.
Her relationship with music changed when she was 18 years old when she was thrust into stage at her local Fado home on a trip to Portugal, she says.
After getting the house’s approval, she says, “I thrust me onto the stage with the musicians, I was standing there like a deer in my headlights, and then I sang the fado I’d collected since I was a kid.” The song she sang, “Estranha Forma de Vida,” was received by a standing ovation.
A few years later, Vieira brought her fado music across the nation and the Bay Area, but she doesn’t play it frequently at her current Vacaville home, she says. This weekend’s multicultural festival will change that.
“I have a lot of shows outside of Vacaville, and that’s such a bittersweet thing for me. There’s such a distribution outside of my hometown. The fact that I’m ultimately integrated with my music and this community makes me incredibly happy,” says Vieira. “I’m pleased to be a Token Portuguese artist here at Vacaville and share my legacy.”
There was a variation of the festival in Vacaville’s history, Milliken said, adding that he appreciates the community’s support and support in bringing together the multicultural event. “It really comes down to those relationships and reaches out to the community,” she said.
Story about the event spread like a wildfire in Vacaville, allowing the city to engage with many communities, says Milicken. Within a few days until the festival, she says she hopes people will come out and come with them at the celebration.
If you’re going…
- Contents: First Vacaville Multicultural Festival
- When: May 10th, 1-5pm
- Location: Andrew Spark, Downtown Vacaville.
