Festival of Cultures Committee Members and Village Officials, 1996
Filipino Drum Group Performance on the Main Stage, 1996
Volunteers at the Welcome Booth led by Marcia Arenson, 1997
Strolling Bavarians, roving performers, who have been a staple of the Festival, 1997
European Dance Group performs, 1996
Due to a two-year construction at Oakton Park, Old Orchard Junior High School hosts the sixth annual Festival on May 18 and 19 in 1996. The event continues to feature ethnic dance and music on two stages, food and art, and the ‘It's a Small World' children's area. The Finnish culture joins 15 other participating cultures. The Festival wins the prestigious national Dorothy Mullen Arts Program Award for the second consecutive year. In 1997, the Festival is again hosted at the Old Orchard Jr. High grounds on May 17 and 18, the seventh annual Festival includes a daytime fireworks display and the International Kite Ballet as part of its opening ceremonies.
In 1998, Skokie's premier diversity celebration moves back to its home at Oakton Park on May 16 and 17, and welcomes the Haitian and Turkish cultures, bringing the total of participating cultures to 16. The Festival hits the World Wide Web at www.SkokieCultureFest.org.The 1999 event is held at Oakton Park on May 22 and 23 and new cultures include Bangladeshi, Egyptian, French, and West Indian.
