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In 1948, Denver’s partnership with its first-ever sister city, Brest, France, proved to be ahead of the curve. It wasn’t until eight years later that then-president Eisenhower established America’s sister-cities initiative. Denver’s Worldwide Festival, happening today at the McNichols Building, celebrates our ten global sister-city connections as well as the national program, which was designed to be a mayor-to-mayor relationship promoting cooperation and understanding among cultures.
“It’s about peace through people,” says the program’s executive director, Beth Hendrix. Today’s interactive celebration features games, food, storytelling and music from sister cities including Axum, Ethiopia; Chennai, India and Cuernavaca, Mexico. Pick up simple phrases in other languages with quick on-site tutorials or learn to play mahjong while mingling with delegates from Nairobi. Learn how to make Chinese moon cakes and Mexican picadillo, or enjoy a live performance by Japanese taiko drummers, all in one space.
The Worldwide Festival goes down from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at McNichols, 144 West Colfax Avenue; admission is free. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit denversistercities.org or call 303-832-1336.
Sun., Sept. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 2014
