Performers entertain on one of the two stages.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, the annual Reston Multicultural Festival returned to Reston Town Center. This year's festival was the Reston Community Center's last presentation under the direction of executive director Leila Gordon. It capped a quarter century of discovering the community's many cultures and artistic expression in a public celebration.
Gordon said the event had something for everyone, regardless of age. In vivid costumes, street performers and others told stories and performed dances that spoke to children, teens, adults, families, and seniors alike. While cultural demonstrations and conversations showcased by community organizations informed adults, other family activities catered to youngsters.
Gordon said the festival's premise has stayed the same for 25 years. “We began wanting to showcase Reston’s diversity and welcoming spirit, and while we have certainly changed a lot in the 25 years since we started, the premises of celebrating diversity and Reston’s inclusive spirit have remained constant.”
Gordon said they choose "a multicultural festival" over multiple individual cultural festivals because their community is so diverse and embraces a multitude of ethnicities and cultures. Other communities might exhibit less diversity, leading to a preference for a singular cultural focus. There is no “best way” to honor diversity — each community develops its own method organically, said Gordon.
RCC handled language hurdles through their website which could provide quick translation, Gordon said. So if someone could not understand English-language materials on site, RCC’s media booth could help check the website schedules and listings in the patron’s language.
Reston Community Center, Reston Town Center Association (RTCA) and BXP (previously Boston Properties) hosted the event. Robert Goudie, executive director of RTCA, said that supporting Reston Town Center as a welcoming place for all is core to their mission, and they talk about that on their web home page.
Goudie said RTCA, RCC and BXP added the Pavilion and Market Street to Town Square Park to make it a "more robust festival," an exciting opportunity. The expanded footprint enhanced the festival's universal appeal and allowed them to include Sip & Stroll to improve the audience experience. Organizers stressed inclusiveness and joy, expressing pride in expanding the festival's reach and diversity. Goudie said that it is “a celebration after all.”
“Adding even more voices and dimensions and bringing this joy to even more people are all good things,” Goudie added.
Considering future festivals, Gordon said, “I know the festival will continue to grow in the coming years just as our multicultural community grows.”