Updated: Parade of Nations to offer "Dancing with Diversity" Sept. 19

International students gather in front of Hancock Middle School for the start of the 2008 Parade of Nations. (2008 Parade photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- Students from more than 70 countries attend Michigan Tech and will provide the backdrop for the 20th annual Parade of Nations -- a festival of music, food and ethnic pride.

"Dancing with Diversity" is the theme of this year's event, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19. The parade will start at 11 a.m. at Hancock Middle School and end in Houghton, where it will be followed by the Multicultural Food and Music Festival at Dee Stadium, which will end at 4 p.m.

The Parade of Nations includes community members of all ages as well as students.

Besides the traditional parade, ethnic fare and clothing, this year's program includes a Bolivian group, Boliviamanta, which will present a benefit performance at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, in the Memorial Union Ballroom. A donation will be requested. Kevin J. Walker, MTU's interim African American outreach coordinator, will also perform.

Lovely traditional costumes from many countries are part of the Parade.

The celebration at Dee Stadium on Houghton's waterfront will be an opportunity to enjoy a diverse offering of handcrafts and tasty treats. A children's activity area will include free pony rides.

Calumet High School Spanish Club students, with their teacher, Cindy Miller, second from left, march in the 2008 Parade of Nations.

The parade itself will feature community members and students from Michigan Tech and Finlandia University -- all representing diverse heritage. The parade will include floats competing for prizes, local high school and middle school marching bands and the Michigan Tech Pep Band.

Houghton's Batucobre Samba Band, playing Brazilian percussion, is a favorite at the Parade of Nations. Here they are at the 2008 Parade. (Videoclip by Keweenaw Now)

For more information contact Lori Muhlig, Michigan Tech's Native American outreach coordinator, or Madeline Mercado Voelker, Michigan Tech's Hispanic/Latino(a) outreach coordinator, both at 487-2920.

Graceful Chinese dancers entertain at Houghton's Dee Stadium following the 2008 Parade of Nations.

Bus service to be provided

Houghton Motor Transit will provide service from the Memorial Union Building (MUB) to Hancock for the start of the parade. The first bus leaves at 9 a.m., and the last bus leaves the MUB at 10:15 a.m.

Need a ride to the Dee Stadium? Call 482-6092. There will be service from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. This courtesy shuttle is only for residents of Houghton.

Community members are welcome to join the parade or follow it to Dee Stadium. It's great exercise!

More memories of 2008 Parade of Nations

Isn't that Keweenaw Now's photographer carrying the Argentine flag? Guess that's why he wasn't carrying his camera ...

Bahama and Bangladesh representatives follow in alphabetical order.

Our Canadian neighbors come next ...

Native Americans in colorful regalia head through Hancock on their float.

From Egypt to Zimbabwe, several African countries are represented.

Members of the Copper Country Guatemala Accompaniment Project, lead a colorful international group toward the Portage Lift Bridge.

Indian students, one of the largest ethnic groups at MTU, head across the bridge to Houghton.

It wouldn't be a parade without the bands. Fans cheer the Hancock High School Band as they head across the Portage Lift Bridge.

Finland is well represented by students from both Finlandia and MTU.

My Korean students ham it up for their teacher -- Julie, Paul and Won ... At left is Dr. Sripaipan, representing his native Thailand.

Another former student of mine, Victor from Germany, demonstrates martial arts with fellow club members on the bridge.

A graduate student from two of my classes, Zhengming Li, and his wife, Suning Wang, now proud parents of Alice. Maybe we'll see their number one daughter at this year's parade!

See you at this year's 20th annual Parade of Nations, Saturday, Sept. 19!

For information about Boliviamanta, this year’s main attraction, please visit: http://www.madison.com/communities/boliviamanta/