Hope’s North Platte Connect International Bazaar Multicultural Festival took place August 20, at the DNN event center.

The bazaar brought over 10 percent of North Platte together in the convention center encasing 41 vendors representing 13 cultures and a kids corner.

“This has been people celebrating and having a great time eating food, listening to music and watching people dance,” organizing board member Rob Derbeyshire said.

Countries represented include Argentina, Brazil, China, Guatemala, India, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, the Republic of Serbia and South Africa.

Kusi Taki, an Andean music ensemble out of Lincoln entertained the crowds through traditional and modernized South American music.

“We want to bring our music to any place where our culture and music is welcomed and here in North Platte, having these wonderful collaborations with community service providers and cultural centers representing different countries around the world,” Kusi Taki member Oscar Rios Pohirieth said. 

Other live performances include a classical Bharatanatyam focused Indian dance group from the Gurukulam Center for Indian Arts (GCIA).

Additionally an African drumming ensemble accompanied by a vocal ensemble from the African Culture Connection performed live.

“Music is a universal language,” Martinez said

The crowds clapped and danced while listening to the groups.

Organizer Yoko Lawing spoke about the success of the event.

“The knowledge of the appreciation for diversity does not emerge in one day,” Lawing said. “It is important in order to create a sustainable community where people feel welcomed and inclusive.”

The consensus across crowds was the sense of excitement brought to the community.

Junior Keagan Hartman enjoyed boba tea while exploring vendors, experiencing the excitement first-hand.

“It was amazing to see people not only excited to be in Nebraska, but also their families’ history in Nebraska,” Hartman said.

This event started in 2018 and returned in 2019. This marks the first bazaar since the surge of COVID 19 in 2020.

The return emerged a new partnership with Hope Esperanza, a non profit organization allowing the newly formed nonprofit status for the bazaar itself.