August 19, 2025
Palatine Park District’s Festival of Cultures, a new, free family event is coming Sunday, September 7, to the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater from 1:00-4:00 pm.
Experience a vibrant afternoon filled with live performances, hands-on activities for all ages, delicious food trucks, and community connections—all celebrating the rich cultural diversity of our community.
Five culturally diverse performances will showcase music and dance from around the world.
Performance Schedule
1:15 pm: The Jasmin Jahal Dance Company
(Traditional and Contemporary Dance from the Middle East)
“Dance is a beautiful way to share the culture and arts of other countries,” said founder Jasmin Jahal. “We provide tasteful, family-oriented dance entertainment that is also educational. Each dance is described to the audience before it is performed, including information about the costuming, music, history, and country of origin.”
1:45 pm: Brotherhood of Harmony Chorus
(Men’s a cappella group specializing in barbershop harmony)
“We sing popular music from the 20th and 21st centuries in four-part harmony without any instruments,” explained member Brian Cromer. “All barbershop harmony groups have historically been separated into all-male (barbershop) or all female (Sweet Adelines), ensembles. Mixed groups exist today, but we remain a place for men to harmonize and fraternize. Audiences can expect to hear popular songs from many decades, including The Beatles, Billy Joel, and Stevie Wonder. There’s nothing more exciting than hearing your favorite songs in four-part barbershop harmony.”
2:15 pm: Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai Performing Group and St. Matthew’s Chimu Don Don
(Japanese- Okinawan music and dance)
Celebrate the tropical southern islands of Japan with this joyful performance of Okinawan Culture – featuring music, dance, and colorful costumes with a rhythmic flair.
2:45 pm: Junior Klezmer Orchestra (JKO)
(Klezmer music – the joyous, soulful music of Eastern Europe shtetls.)
“I started the JKO 30 years ago because education is essential to successfully reviving a folk tradition that has been lost,” said Director Lori Lippitz. “Music is the language that everyone understands and has an emotional response to – it’s the best way to connect with people of other cultures and faith communities.” Notable JKO alumni include Ian Weinberger, music director and conductor of Hamilton on Broadway.
3:15 pm: Chicago Cossacks
(Ukrainian music and dance)
“It is important to showcase different cultures because you don’t need to know the language to enjoy music and dance – performance arts are truly universal,” said Chicago Cossacks member Gennady Sergienko. “In our current fragile world, full of hate and miscommunication, coming together like this is more important than ever.” The group will present traditional Ukrainian songs and dances with narration that includes translated lyrics and cultural context.
Cultural Arts Manager Laney Haupert shared, “We believe that celebrating the diversity in our community helps build connection, belonging, and understanding. The Festival of Cultures is an opportunity to come together and appreciate the many cultures that make Palatine special. By creating spaces where people can both teach and learn from one another, we strengthen the bonds that make our community more welcoming and inclusive.“
Food Vendors
Mario’s Cart (Mexican)
Stix and Noodles (Filipino)
My Flavor It Ice Cream
Community Tables
Meet local organizations and community members, including:
Pantomath
Palatine Park District Foundation
Palatine Park District
Palatine Library
Trinity Academy of Irish Dancers
Beta XI Pi: Multicultural Sorority Incorporated
Will’s Place, Skokie (nonprofit café creating meaningful jobs for adults with disabilities)
Celebrate, Connect, Belong
“We hope festival attendees walk away with both joy and curiosity, having learned something new about the people who live alongside them,” added Haupert. “The festival is not just about celebrating differences, but also about finding the common threads that unite us- family, tradition, creativity, and joy. More than anything, we hope attendees feel a sense of belonging and pride in being part of such a vibrant and diverse community – and carry that spirit of inclusivity into their everyday lives. “
Bring your family and friends and join us for a day of unity, discovery, and celebration!
