Festival of Nations (St. Louis) facts for kids
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The Festival of Nations is a super fun and free event held every year in St. Louis, Missouri. It's a big celebration of different cultures from all around the world! The International Institute of St. Louis organizes this amazing festival.
You can find the festival in Tower Grove Park, a beautiful city park located on Grand Boulevard. It's a great place to explore different traditions. The festival features many exciting things like food from various countries, lively dance performances, diverse music, unique arts and crafts, and a special international market.
History of the Festival
The Festival of Nations has a long and interesting history. It actually started way back in 1920! The International Institute of St. Louis first organized a similar event called the International May Festival.
About 2,000 people came to that first May Festival. It was one of the very first celebrations of different cultures in the United States. Today's Festival of Nations grew from that early May Festival, continuing its tradition of bringing people together.
About the International Institute of St. Louis
The International Institute of St. Louis (IISTL) is a very important organization. Its main goal is to help build good relationships between newcomers and people who have lived in America for a long time. Newcomers include immigrants and refugees who are starting a new life in the United States.
The Institute offers many helpful services. For example, they teach English to new arrivals. They also help refugees settle into their new homes. The IISTL assists newcomers in finding jobs and provides translation services. They offer many other types of support to help people feel welcome and succeed in their new community.
