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MARSHALL -- A wide variety of world cultures will be showcased this weekend at Marshall's Red Baron Arena.
Southwest Minnesota State University's international students will present their WorldFest 2023. It will be the second WorldFest after it made a successful debut in 2022.
The event, set to run from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, will feature three different types of attractions. They include a Cultures Expo, Global Cuisine and World Stage.
The Cultures Expo will have displays, presentations and hands-on educational activities. Global Cuisine will feature a combination of local and international foods and beverages. The World Stage will have a diverse range of worldwide music and other entertainment.
May Lee Moua-Vue, SMSU's international student adviser and a WorldFest coordinator, said a goal was to represent as many cultures as possible that include at least one Marshall resident.
"We wanted to involve everyone," Moua-Vue said. "It's a chance for everyone to come together. We want to give participants an opportunity to learn and to celebrate diversity."
In a presentation to Marshall's Sunrise Rotary Club at the group's March 30 meeting, she said WorldFest replaced SMSU's former International Food Festival.
She explained that the food festival was successful, with several hundred people attending every year. A disadvantage was the need for large amounts of student labor in the kitchen.
"It was stressful for them," she said. "They usually don't cook for themselves, let alone a large crowd. It seemed like the best solution was to broaden the event, to focus on more than just international food."
Organizers turned to vendors to supply much of the food for WorldFest. It gave students the opportunity to volunteer with other parts of the celebration.
Another change was to move the event from the SMSU campus to the Red Baron Arena. Moua-Vue said the move was designed to create more involvement from people who live in Marshall and the surrounding area.
"It's important to include the community," she said. "We accomplished that last year. We're seeing a good combination of SMSU students, staff and community members."
She said WorldFest surpassed expectations by drawing about 1,000 people in 2022. Organizers hope for an even higher turnout in the second year.
Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Cassi Weiss said she's impressed with the public response to WorldFest.
"It's making a great impact on Marshall," Weiss said. "People have an opportunity to come together and to celebrate one another. It's a chance to see many different people as they show off their beautiful cultures."