For over a year, we have endured social distancing. These preventive measures and vaccines are moving us toward ending the coronavirus pandemic. We are ready to reconnect. If it is safe, we will have that opportunity at this year’s International Festival on July 8, 9, and 10.
Plans are underway for conversations and celebrations to unite us as a community. A special focus will be honoring our essential workers/heroes.
Thursday evening at the “Immigrant Conversations” event, a recent African, Asian, and Hispanic immigrant who is an essential worker will tell their stories of struggles and triumphs during the pandemic.
On Friday evening, essential workers will be identified with a sticker, recognized and thanked, and they will be distinguished as flag bearers in the opening ceremony. They will be entered in a drawing for gift cards at local restaurants and for children’s books depicting ethnically diverse essential workers. Between the usual performances, an employer will thank an essential employee who has risked themselves by working during the pandemic, and a consumer will thank them both.
If you see these experiences as valuable to you and our community, please consider donating or volunteering for the event. Donations for the additional expenses can be made out to Worthington International Festival and delivered to the Chamber at 1121 3rd Ave., Worthington, MN 56187.
You can also volunteer to help with specific tasks in honoring our essential workers — distributing stickers, assisting with the drawings, contacting local restaurants, arranging the thank you exchanges, inviting essential workers to be present. With enough volunteers, we may hold a downtown parade. You could offer your assistance by driving vehicles symbolizing essential workers, and flatbed trailers, hayracks, and pickups to carry the people, and setting up a sound system to broadcast the music. If you want to be a part of the team or have questions, contact the International Festival secretary, Jim Krapf, at 507-360-1662 or [email protected] . Come join in pulling our unique community together in a pride-filled and fun-filled festival!