Julie Klingler shares details on this weekend’s Multicultural Expo with Monday’s chamber of commerce press conference.
Jacob Espinosa
LIMA —The Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce will hold the newest event to take over the Pangle Pavilion and Greater Lima Region Amphitheater and Park this Saturday.
This year’s Multicultural Expo will run from noon to 6 p.m. and will feature food, exhibits and entertainment from countries like Japan, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Peru among others and Director of Promotions and Community Development for the chamber Julie Klingler said that the event should show how Lima is an example of the melting pot.
“All of these cultures exist right here in our area and they bring such a richness to Allen County and our region in terms of everything they have to offer us, whether it’s food, music or art,” she said. “I just want everyone to take away that we are all here together and we all contribute to this great melting pot in Lima.”
Klingler said that the chamber had the idea for the event after having a similar event in the past that attendees received well.
“We hope that it becomes an annual event for us,” she said. “Several people came to us and said that we need to bring this back to the community. So what we know here at the chamber is that our business organizations are pulling people in from all over the world and a lot of people don’t even realize how many cultures there are in the region so we think it’s important to open it to everybody free of charge and all the exhibitors can be represented and tell their stories.”
And that will be among the things that Klingler is most looking forward to.
“Watching and seeing all the cultures get stage time will be great,” she said. “The pavilion is going to have a full schedule all afternoon with entertainment ranging from dance, music, costumes and poetry readings. And of course, our headliners Stedic Music will take the stage at 4:30, closing out the event.”
Exhibitors will be able to reserve time to showcase their culture and among the food options available will be trucks featuring Puerto Rican and Mexican cuisine.
Klingler said that the expo, along with several other events around it, will help local businesses grow.
“We know that when diversity, equity and inclusion are recognized in our businesses, then the organizations thrive more,” she said. “And so we want to make sure we give that opportunity to them to learn how to do it better and utilize some tactics to grow.”
The theme for this event will be regalia from around the world.
For more information, visit the chamber website, limachamber.com.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
