LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) -
Saturday Lufkin residents were surrounded by
various cultures and traditions at the city's 8th Annual Heritage Festival.
"There is always going to be
something to learn," said Barbara Thompson, Main Street Director.
The Lufkin Civic Center was filled with
vendors representing various cultures. Each booth had foods, clothes and art
from various backgrounds, giving festival goers a small taste of a culture
outside of their own.
"We learn so many different
things about each other," said Thompson.
Mina Patel participated in the event,
she was a part of storytelling for young children, the twist ,the story was read
in four different languages.
Patel says the festival gives many a new
perspective on a culture they may not have known much about.
"There are so many different languages
and people here and this festival is to meet new people," said Patel.
The festival also featured different
styles of dance including tap, zumba, African and Indian.
Patel says the festival is a fun way to try
things out of the ordinary and an easy way to meet people while
learning about they're background.
"I've made a bunch of new friends
and they also ask how we came here and what are you doing here and this is
really from another world to their world," said Patel.
Officials say the heritage festival mirrors
the identity of our nation and offers a closer look into history.
"We are a great melting pot in
the United States so even in our community we are a great melting pot and
everyone just loves to come find out about each other," said Thompson.
A tradition officials hope continues for
generations.
Copyright 2012 KTRE. All rights reserved.
