Pueblo's 4th Annual Multicultural Fest to bring cultures of the world together on Oct. 8
A Pueblo tradition four years in the making, the Multicultural Festival returns to Mineral Palace Park on October 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This year’s festival will include 16 performances from musicians, dancers, luchadors and martial artists representing Mexican, Irish, Turkish, Egyptian, Arabian, Native American, Puerto Rican, Tahitian, Gypsy, Aztec, Russian, Filipino and Tex-Mex cultures. Over 60 vendors and 10 food trucks also will be on site.
Admission to the 4th Annual Multicultural Festival is free and open to the public.
A seven-year Pueblo resident, Multicultural Festival organizer Javier Quiñones of Mad Fresh Productions grew up in Chicago where cultural festivals were in abundance, but several neighborhoods remained segregated. After moving to Pueblo, Quiñones had a vision for a festival that would celebrate many ethnicities in one spot.
“That’s how I decided to formulate the 4th Annual Multicultural Festival here in town —find the different ethnicities, find their talents, find the community leaders, find the teachers and bring them all together in one beautiful park to share their heritage and educate,” Quiñones said.
Aztec ceremonial dancers from Grupo Xochitl, Filipino martial artists from Katipunan Martial Arts and soul musicians from It’s a Trade Thing have been a part of the Multicultural Festival from the beginning and will continue with performances at this year’s festival.
Additional performers at the 4th Annual Multicultural Festival include DJ Roy Rumble, Mariachi Serna Flores, The New Potatoes, Turkish Whirling dancers, the Jeannie Academy of Dance, Native American dancers, El Conde Federico, Mary Anciso Chavez, Southpaq, Morgan Cox, Andrea Ferreira, Peacock Pole Art and Las Estrellas.
Food truck vendors on site will include Creole Magnolias, Double D’s Barbecue, Holy Cow, Mimi’s Shaved Ice, Nana’s Barbecue, Papa Mario’s Grilled Cheese Truck, Puff Puffette Pass, The Sacred Bean and Smith Grubs.
While Quiñones has organized the multicultural festival since 2019 through his company Mad Fresh Productions, he prefers to stay “behind the scenes,” leaving the spotlight for other artists in Pueblo. His unwavering support of local artists aligns with his larger vision for Mad Fresh Productions.
“The basic idea is to bring the community together, creating avenues for artists, musicians and all other creative aspects,” he said. “I do that all under the bubble of Mad Fresh Productions.”
Outside the multicultural fest, Mad Fresh Productions has hosted several Open Mic nights for local poets, musicians and comedians to showcase their talents.
An artist himself, Quiñones’ passions include hip hop, poetry and photography. His photography business, Javier Quiñones Photography has documented Pueblo’s first Women’s March, The Boys and Girls Club Champion of Youth Dinner, Pueblo Pride, senior pictures, weddings, and wildlife throughout Colorado among other sites.
