Festival to feature ‘melting pot of cultures’

Want to explore a variety of the world’s cultures in just one day? You can do just that at the DeSoto County International Festival.

“The festival will be a day of discovery as the melting pot of cultures fill the venue,” festival organizer Sarah Bishop said.

With more than 10 cultures represented, the festival will include art, food and performances. The event is set for June 23 at the Landers Center in Southaven.

“We will have performances by groups from Ethiopia, Nigeria, Thailand, Polynesia, India, an Aztec ritual dance group and a reggae band from the Mid-South called Chinese Connection Dub Embassy,” Bishop said.

The festival also will feature Cambodian, Jamaican, South African and Native American cultures.

The event will benefit The Hope Center, a nonprofit in Horn Lake. The center was founded by Stacy Dodd, and Bishop is the co-founder and executive director.

“The Hope Center’s mission is to provide activities to the public that are safe and discovery oriented,” Bishop said.

The center also focuses on creating family-centered events for DeSoto County residents. In the past, it hosted archaeological digging and trail-building leadership workshops, anti-bullying seminars and a mentoring partnership with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Bishop hopes this event will give attendees the chance to experience and learn about other cultures.

“We want the public to take this day as a fun way of experiencing a vacation in the comfort of their own city and empowering people to explore the world with intention,” she said. “We want DeSoto County to be a beautiful hub of expression where people feel comfortable and inspired.”

Sponsors include NFusion Mississippi, Spice Market of India and Bombay Salon and Spa. Bombay will provide eyebrow threading and henna tattoos at the event.

Items also can be purchased from vendors and food trucks.

Kevin Bowie will present Khmer Kulture Clothing & Products, a clothing and product brand for people who are Cambodian or interested in the culture.

“The brand allows individuals of Cambodian ancestry and lovers of the culture the opportunity to wear clothing that showcases this amazing culture in a current yet respectful manner,” Bowie said.

The Khmer vendor table will include informative and educational items, as well as items for sale.

“We will have brochures with the country’s history, music and food samples for those that visit our table,” Bowie said. “We will have handmade Krama scarfs, organic chopsticks in hand-sewn covers, authentic spices, natural handmade soaps and candles and handwoven silk purses.”

Khmer Kulture Clothing & Products also gives back to charities that help children who live in impoverished parts of the country. It also imports authentic handmade fair trade products.

“What we hope to gain from this event is to bring awareness to this long and amazing culture, the current struggles that continue to hinder those living there and to continue our efforts of donation through percentages of sales to those charities that focus on Cambodian children,” Bowie said.

This is the first year for the festival, and Bishop does not plan on it being the last.