The Vermont International Festival

The Vermont International is an amazing event that celebrates music, dance, crafts and food from around the world. This year is the 17th annual event and it takes place at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction, VT.

It is such an amazing event to participate in. Badara of Nine Steps Away From Africa brings his shea butter from Senegal, perfect for VT’s dry winter months. Maria of Tumi always has beautiful belts and bags from Peru. There are several booths where Tibetan refugees bring turquoise jewelry and home decorations with Buddhist symbols.

The Festival is a great opportunity to see the many countries that are now represented in Burlington. The Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program was founded in 1980 and has served thousands of refugees from countries including Bhutan, Iraq, Burma, Tibet, and Somalia. Many of our multi-cultural neighbors participate in the Festival with music, dance, crafts and food.

Many of the vendors send the profits they make back to their countries of origin. Others work with fair trade artisan groups in third world countries to help support their local economies and reduce poverty. The Festival gives the Burlington community an opportunity to help support those in need around the world. At the holidays this is especially important as the gifts we give can reflect the generosity that is inherent in the goods available at the Festival.

The music and dance performances include artists from all over the world. This year, we are really excited to welcome Kinobe and Soul Beat from Uganda. The performances are an authentic showcase of dance and music from a variety of cultures.

The Festival is a highlight of the year for me. I appreciate the opportunity to sample Ethiopian food, Indian Samosas and crepes. For one weekend, we can get a taste for the cultures we love. The Vermont International Festival reminds us of how diverse we are and yet how connected human beings are across cultures.