Cultural Crossroads Fesitval brings more than 50 nationalities together for 28th annual event

Communities from 50 cultures gathered last weekend for the 28th annual Cultural Crossroads Festival.

By Evan Pappas • March 15, 2019 1:30 am

Communities from more than 50 cultures gathered at Crossroads Shopping Center in Bellevue last weekend for the 28th annual Cultural Crossroads Festival.

Throughout the weekend, Crossroads hosted three dozen dance and music performances on two stages at the mall. Several vendor booths featuring items from various cultures formed the path between the two stages as shoppers and festival attendees walked back and forth to take in the performances.

Alma Plancich, event organizer since the festival’s inception and owner of VL Cultural Productions, worked with all of the groups to organize their performances and schedule the event. She said participation in the event has grown over the years as more and more immigrants from various countries want to get involved.

Plancich, herself an immigrant from Croatia, views the festival as a way for people to meet each other and learn about the cultures represented through the people that live in the area.

The Geetanjali Tamil Band perform traditional songs at Crossroads’ Market Stage. Evan Pappas/Staff Photo

Volunteers from the Pacifica Institue’s culture center run a booth selling items made by members of the Turkish community, and items from Turkey. From left: Nihan Tatli, Busra Karabulut, and Fatima Camci. Evan Pappas/Staff Photo