LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This weekend is the 22nd annual WorldFest in Louisville, where people can experience and taste the different flavors and cultures of the world. 

What You Need To Know

  • The 22nd annual WorldFest celebrates and showcases the international cultures and communities that make up the city of Louisville and neighboring areas

  • The fest is open to all ages, featuring 150 food and craft vendors along with over a hundred different entertainment artist

  •  The fest is expecting 150,000 people to attend the event over the Labor Day weekend

Eden & Kissi restaurant has been a vendor at WorldFest for 10 years, sharing the Afro-Caribbean cuisines with the community. Leanne-Sarah says all the recipes come from her mother’s home in Ivory Coast, West Africa.

“We specialize in food cooked with love. So you get some oxtail, some jerk chicken. A lot of different courses of flavors. It’s important for us to keep that, that thing going of everyone getting to feel out everyone’s culture and eat our different foods as well,” said Leanne-Sarah.

This is Marih Nelson and Kye’Rah Coatley’s second year at WorldFest. They say they are excited to learn more about different cultures, food and jewelry. 

“I love coming here. It’s such a great experience. Knowing how all these different cultures and being here with my friends is just amazing,” said Nelson.

“Yes, I agree. I’m trying to get me some waist beads. I do like I want to try like the different foods. So that’s what I’m really looking forward to,” said Coatley.

Nancy Quero owns Guelaguetza Designs in Michigan and works with over a hundred workshops of one-of-a-kind items from all over Mexico.

“As a Mexican, I think it’s part of my responsibility to continue, that the younger generations have the access to these products so they feel the connection with their culture, with their heritage,” said Quero.

There are 150 food and craft vendors, along with over 100 different entertainment artist. WorldFest event producer Joey Wagner calls this fest one of the biggest events in Louisville.

“Louisville is special because it’s such a diverse city. And when you have so many different cultures that can come together for one weekend and I can try food from Africa or Ecuador or Cuba or, you know, foods you might never really eat on a norm and see how good they are from some of these other countries. It’s pretty awesome to see. And people love it,” said Wagner.

Leanne-Sarah says she is happy to call Louisville home, where she can share her culture and embrace others too.

“I feel like when we moved here, the city that accepted us, a city where we felt comfortable, was Louisville. So for us to be able to give something back to the city, it’s fun. It’s amazing as well,” said Leanne-Sarah.

 They are expecting 150,000 people to attend the event over the long holiday weekend.

WorldFest is a free event that goes all Labor Day weekend. You can see a full schedule on their website.

Related Stories