A day filled with food, music, dancing and more is coming to Indy with the first annual Island Mid Fest.
James Cabral, founder and member of the Island Mid Fest LLP organization, said Island Mid Fest aims to celebrate the culture, music and food of the Caribbean and Latin Islands while “bridging the gap” between different communities in Indianapolis in an educative but fun way — through festival.
“Our goal is to bring awareness and facilitate the Haitian Community’s Value in society and shed light upon our abilities to come together and approach the distance of resources, education, music, and networking from a place of festivity,” Cabral said in a statement. “The Island Mid Fest Multicultural Music Festival grants the perfect opportunity to demonstrate commitment and goodwill to the community’s well-being while strengthening the relationship with various communities.”
Indiana is home to more than 20,000 Haitian residents.
Festival spokesperson Nicole Rene said it is often difficult for people to understand and interact with other cultures. She said the idea for the festival arose as an exciting and interactive way to engage community members through a multicultural experience.
“A lot of the times people don’t understand (other) cultures,” said Rene, adding that the lack of understanding can lead to conflicts between cultures. “So, (the organizers) just wanted to make sure that they kind of explained their culture, and how they celebrate everything through a festival … and the idea is that everybody can come together though music.”
Island Mid Fest will feature food vendors, a full line-up of DJs and music from Blondedy Ferdinand, Rhodah, Bazz LA and more, with headliner Rick Ross. Rene said there will be onsite job fairs, local art and education outlets as well as informational vendors from community organizations and agencies.
The festival is open to all and aims to create a fun and safe environment for families and kids by featuring kid-friendly activities, such as face painting, a bouncy house, cultural dance session and a cotton candy machine at the kids’ hub.
“It is our intention to go beyond creating an enjoyable environment for everyone but to celebrate the similarities within friendship and family,” Cabral said.
Island Mid Fest takes place May 13 from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Military Park, 601 W. New York St. Tickets are $5 for kids and $40 for general admission, and can be purchased on Eventbrite or at islandmidfest.com. For more information, email islandmidfest@gmail.com.
Contact staff writer Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848 chloegm@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
