Ethnic Enrichment Festival is back at Swope Park. What food & performances to check out

Joseph Hernandez
·5 min read

Eat your way around the world this weekend, right in the heart of Swope Park.

In a few short days, the Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City will host its 43rd annual “Ethnic Enrichment Festival.” It will run from August 19-21.

The Ethnic Enrichment festival celebrates cultures all over the world that have a home here in Kansas City, representing more than 40 different countries with food, traditional dance, musical performances and more.

Melinda Minks, a liaison with Kansas City Parks and Recreation, said it feels good to have the festival back in full swing after hosting a virtual ceremony in 2020 and only have performances in 2021.

“We have some of the best people in the world coming to the festival, and it’s great to watch,” Minks said.

Before you head to Swope Park, take a look at what’s in store for the festival this year.

WHAT CAN YOU EAT?

The Ethnic Enrichment Festival will have more food to choose from than you’ll have time to eat. Here’s a small selection of what you can try at the festival and what country it comes from:

  • Bangladesh: vegetable samosas, butter chicken rice, chicken biriyani, kebab roll, spicy tandoori chicken, kulfi ice cream and masala chai

  • Colombia: beef empanadas, areaps con queso, arepas rellenas, patacones, coffee shakes and Colombian coffee

  • Egypt: falafel, fava bean dip, chicken and beef shawarma, koushari, beef stuffed phyllo, baklava, basbousa

  • Ireland: Fish and chips, Irish soda bread and raisin bread

  • Jamaica: jerk chicken, pork, seasonings and sauce, beef, chicken and veggie patties and Jamaican soda

  • Laos: Beef and chicken kebabs, fried and sticky rice, egg rolls, crab rangoon and papaya

  • Samoa: teriyaki chicken plate, kalua pork plate, loco moco plate and chicken katsu plate, all plates come with rice, macaroni salad and noodles

  • Sweden: Swedish meatball wrap, dessert waffles

You can find the full menu here.

For visitors who are 21 and older, there’s also a beer garden.

Savannah Williams was leading the beginning portion of the Thousand Hands Dance as members of the Lily Zhang Li Taylor Dance Academy performed for the crowd during the Ethnic Enrichment festival at Swope Park on Saturday, August 22, 2015. File/Kansas City Star
Savannah Williams was leading the beginning portion of the Thousand Hands Dance as members of the Lily Zhang Li Taylor Dance Academy performed for the crowd during the Ethnic Enrichment festival at Swope Park on Saturday, August 22, 2015. File/Kansas City Star

WHO IS PERFORMING?

The stage will be filled with musical performances and dances from Kansas City groups representing different countries. There are different performers each day.

Friday:

  • Czech and Slovak Republic: Slavic dancers at 7 p.m.

  • Germany: SV Blautaler at 7:30 p.m.

  • Croatia: Hvratski Obicaj at 8 p.m.

  • Thailand: Thai dance troupe at 8:30 p.m.

  • Ukraine: Ukrainian Club of KC Dancers at 9 p.m.

  • Samoa: Kona Winds at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday:

  • Lebanon: Heart of America belly dance group at noon

  • Serbia: St. George Serbian Orthodox choir at 12:30 p.m.

  • Sweden: Scandinavian folk dancers at 1 p.m.

  • Peru: Sabor a Peru at 1:30 p.m.

  • India: India Association of KC at 2 p.m.

  • Republic of China and Taiwan: HK Chinese folk dance and Tai Chi Chuan at 2:30 p.m.

  • Japan: Three Trails Taiko drums at 3 p.m.

  • Indonesia: Gamelan Genta Kashuri at 3:30 p.m.

  • Ethnic Enrichment Commission: Parade of Flags at 4 p.m.

  • Scotland: St. Andrew pipes and drums at 5 p.m.

  • Iran: Heart of America Middle Eastern dancers at 5:30 p.m.

  • American Indians: cultural entertainment at 6 p.m.

  • Hawaii: Hula Hale O Kiakahi at 6:30 p.m.

  • Malaysia: Malaysian Fusion dance team at 7 p.m.

  • Greece: Ximeromata at 7:30 p.m.

  • Haiti: Haitian Experience at 8 p.m.

  • Philippines: Sinag Tala at 8:30 p.m.

  • Ireland: O’Riada-Manning Irish dancers at 9 p.m.

  • Colombia: Grupo Quimbaya at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday:

  • China: Lilli Taylor Dance School at noon

  • Japan: K. C. Kendo Club at 12:30 p.m.

  • Israel: “Tikvah” Israeli dancers at 1 p.m.

  • Vietnam: Church of the Holy Martyrs dancers at 1:30 p.m.

  • Ethnic Enrichment Commission: A fashion show at 2 p.m.

  • Brazil: Grupo Axe Capoeira at 3 p.m.

  • Laos: Laotian Extravaganza at 3:30 p.m.

  • African American: “Versetile” by The Anointed Dance Group at 4 p.m.

  • Mexico: Rose Marie’s Fiesta Mexicana at 4:30 p.m.

  • Italy: Frank Ancona presents “The Best of Italy” at 5 p.m.

Jan Carollo of Overland Park, Kansas took pictures of her daughter, Sofie Carollo, Irene Thompson (center) and Ava Moore, during the Ethnic Enrichment festival at Swope Park in 2015. Thompson got in the photo after selling the kids a Vinok Ukraine flower head piece. File/Kansas City Star
Jan Carollo of Overland Park, Kansas took pictures of her daughter, Sofie Carollo, Irene Thompson (center) and Ava Moore, during the Ethnic Enrichment festival at Swope Park in 2015. Thompson got in the photo after selling the kids a Vinok Ukraine flower head piece. File/Kansas City Star

WHAT CAN THE KIDS DO?

There’s plenty of entertainment for the kids. Underneath the “Kids World” tent are arts and crafts and an instrument petting zoo, where children can try out musical instruments from all over the world.

Kids will also receive a passport when they enter the gates or visit the information booth. Each country’s booth throughout the park has a passport stamp. Each child who fills out their passport with stamps from every booth will receive a special prize.

WHEN CAN YOU GO?

The festival opens Friday and runs throughout the weekend at these times:

  • Friday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

  • Saturday: Noon to. 10 p.m.

  • Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m.

Tickets will be available at the gate for $5 each. Admission is free for children ages 12 and under.

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