The city of Chandler’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Division invites the community to celebrate the 30th Chandler Multicultural Festival.

It’s a free Saturday, Jan. 18 event highlighting the city’s vibrant cultural diversity through live performances, storytelling, art, cuisine and more.

The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park: Stage Plaza, 178 E. Commonwealth Ave. in Downtown Chandler.

Celebrating its 30th year, this festival will be the largest one yet, according to a news release.

Attendees can enjoy live entertainment from local and international talent on two stages, shop for unique treasures from around the globe, and stop by to connect with multiple nonprofits, faith-based organizations and other educational groups in Chandler that serve various communities.

The festival also will feature a diverse array of cuisines available for purchase, including flavors from Jamaica and the Caribbean, Mexico, Colombia, Hawaii, the Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, India, France, Germany and Croatia, along with classic American fare.

Children’s activities include a trip-around-the-world interactive activity, educational STEM booths and the Arizona Cardinals inflatable obstacle course.

New this year is a custom cruiser car show, featuring custom vehicles from all over the Valley.

Trophies will be presented to the first-, second- and third-place cars, and attendees may cast a vote for the People’s Choice Award.

The DEI Division has partnered with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to host a Naturalization Ceremony at 10 a.m. — just before the festival begins.

During this uncommon event, approximately 100 individuals will become U.S. citizens. Chandler’s Chief Presiding Judge, Alicia Skupin, will be the featured keynote speaker at the ceremony, sharing her unique perspective as a first-generation Latina and as both a daughter and wife of naturalized U.S. citizens.

Event admission is free, along with free parking in multiple parking garages located in the downtown area.

For more information on the annual festival, contact Adrianna Tušek Erickson at adrianna.erickson@chandleraz.gov or 480-782-2224, or Dara Gibson at dara.gibson@chandleraz.gov or 480-782-2221.

The performance schedule below is for both stages.

Brief descriptions of the performers — along with a list of participating community organizations, food vendors and merchants — are available online at this link.

Unity Stage:
11:15 a.m.: Lion Dancer Ty Ng and the cast of Arizona Art Academy
Noon: Kilted Spirit
1 p.m.: Tony Duncan
1:45 p.m.: Remarks by Mayor Kevin Hartke
2 p.m.: Sandra Bassett
3 p.m.: Chilenos Sin Fronteras
4 p.m.: Creative Expression Competition Winners presented by Mayor Hartke (Note: The winning artwork will be on display during the event (near the stage) and also will be featured online at chandleraz.gov/CreativeExpression.)
4:30 p.m.: A3X

Cross Cultural Stage:
11 a.m.: Dance Team
11:25 a.m.: Guitarras Latinas
Noon: Lets Belly Dance
12:30 p.m.: Kriti Dance

12:35 p.m.: Intel will announce its current cohort of grant awardees from its Equity in STEAM Initiative in partnership with the YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix.
12:45 p.m.: NKT Lions
1 p.m.: Remarks by Mayor Kevin Hartke
1:05 p.m.: The Prancing Panthers Majorettes
1:15 p.m.: NoopurAZ Dance LLC
1:25 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli-AZ
2 p.m.: Presentation of Miss Indian Arizona Isabella Kara Newman
2:15 p.m.: Hawa Ensemble
2:50 p.m.: Bautista Kajukenbo Dragons
3:15 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico del Valle del Sol
3:50 p.m.: Serenity Dance
4 p.m.: Presentation of Miss Juneteenth Arizona Queen Mara McPhail and/or runner-up Alyssa Morrison
4:05 p.m.: Haitian Cultural Dance
4:25 p.m.: The Arizona Korean Dance
4:40 p.m.: Art 2 Hear Guzheng Group - Sophia Wong and Sabrina Wong.

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