Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) and the Village of Royal Palm Beach will present their 11th annual Cultural Diversity Day on Saturday, May 9 from 1 p.m. to sundown at Veterans Park on Royal Palm Beach Blvd.
Fun for the whole family and entertainment, including international music by the Ernitones, is sure to bring about a great day of learning about different cultures.
Elet Cyris, CAFCI cultural director and chair of Cultural Diversity Day, said she thinks it is an incredibly important event, especially with Royal Palm Beach’s diverse community. “It is good for us to learn each other’s culture out there, our foods, our art and our music,” she said. “We learn to respect each other through learning about different cultures. It’s for us to get to know each other.”
The diversity of cultures that attend, participate and display at Cultural Diversity Day is varied. This year, German, Spanish, Caribbean (many different islands), American and more cultures will be represented, Cyris said.
The entertainment is one of the most exciting aspects of the event for Cyris, who is looking forward to watching Volkstanzgruppe German Maypole Dancers; Mima Lion Dancers (Chinese Kung Fu Dancers); Music Create Motivators (MCM), with a Haitian and Latin mix; Matute Dance; Antonio Falla; the CAFCI Domino Club; and Sensational Diva Models.
More groups will be announced as the May 9 event nears. Cyris heads the event committee with fellow CAFCI member Ernie Garvey, vice chair of the event.
Garvey is looking forward to the music, bands, food vendors, dance and music, as well as learning more about different cultures.
“Cultural Diversity Day is when we help all cultures from the area come together. We’re inviting people from Fort Lauderdale and Miami,” he said. “We really just want to spread the news that Royal Palm Beach is bringing cultural diversity to the area. We’re looking for all kinds… country, Latin, Haitian, Chinese, Japanese — everybody to come in and share what they have with us.”
One of the many great discoveries that happen at the event is learning about different cultures through their foods, crafts and music.
“I’m always ready and excited for Cultural Diversity Day. It’s something I look forward to all year,” Garvey said.
Garvey and Cyris are also looking forward to the CAFCI Domino Demonstration, where CAFCI members will teach players of all ages how to play dominos.
Royal Palm Beach Cultural Events Coordinator Carlos Morales estimates that 1,000 people typically attend the event, which effectively allows attendees to travel the world from the comfort of the park.
“It’s a melting pot of an event,” Morales said. “We’re trying to promote and really bring different ethnic groups together and share their diversity, as far as music, food, or through arts and crafts, whatever it may be through; we look at it as bringing the community together.”
The village will be providing a shuttle van to take people from behind Village Hall to Veterans Park. Additionally, the café and splash pad at the park will be open. The village will be promoting various recreation programs as well.
Cultural Diversity Day is sponsored by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County and Palm Beach County.
For more information, call the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center at (561) 790-5149, Cyris at (561) 791-9097 or Garvey at (561) 676-5664.
ABOVE: Volkstanzgruppe German Maypole Dancers during last year’s Cultural Diversity Day event. Photo by Fabiana Otero
