Festival of Nations

History

Today's programs at the International Institute of St. Louis have their roots in the Institute's very beginnings. Its founders and those who followed them have always been deeply concerned with helping newcomers adjust to life in America while retaining their diverse cultural traditions. In 1919, Ruth Holliday Watkins and a group of caring St. Louisans founded the International Institute to help large numbers of refugee and displaced women coming here from the war-torn countries of Europe. Working through the local chapter of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) , volunteers established a variety of adjustment services. Today's Festival of Nations has its origins in the International May Festival, first held in 1920. Organized by the International Institute, the May Festival was one of the earliest multicultural celebrations in the nation. It took place eight years before the National Folk Festival, which was also held in St. Louis.

Specialties

Admission and Entertainment are free! This August, more than 125,000 visitors will gather in beautiful, tree-lined Tower Grove park for two days of free, non-stop ethnic music, dance and the most diverse array of food in town. Founded in 2000, our annual Festival of Nations has quickly grown into the St. Louis region's largest multicultural festival. Dine at 40+ ethnic food booths, featuring mouth-watering delights from the four corners of the world. Savor flaky Bosnian or Greek baklava, Ethiopian injera with doro wat, Polish sausage, Turkish borek, Mexican tamales, Thai coconut drink, Cuban empanadas, Afghan sambosa, Filipino kebabs, Belezian beans and rice, Israeli falafel, French crepes, and much, much more. Test your dancing by joining in on informal, free dance lessons including Spanish Flamenco and popular Indian dancing. Sway to Brazilian samba, try Polynesian hula, gyrate with belly dancers, and practice Japanese bon odori. *Admission is Free*