Cathedral Culture Fair celebrates diversity in parish, community

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
May 25, 2006

The Cathedral Culture Fair in Sioux City will once again bring food and entertainment of different cultures out for an afternoon on June 11.

People are invited to celebrate diversity with the Hispanic, Vietnamese, German, American, Italian and Native American cultures.

"I think all of the cultures of the church have embraced it as a chance to come together," said Tim Bottaro, a member of the planning committee. "People in town enjoy it because they get a chance, at a really economical price, to sample some great food. We find it is of good value and it is a chance to celebrate the diversity we have at Cathedral."

The day will begin at noon on Douglas Street between the Cathedral of the Epiphany and the Epiphany Center. The street will be closed off for the event.

There will be booths set up representing the cultures and will serve food that is native to their culture. Bottaro noted that the cultures to be represented at the booths this year include Hispanic, Vietnamese, German, American and Italian. There is usually a Native American booth, but they are not able to participate this year.

"Primarily it is centered around food," said Bottaro. "People really enjoy it. We have a punch card. People go around from booth to booth and sample food."

Bottaro explained that the tickets are $5 for $6 worth of food.

"People get absolutely stuffed off of $5 because we have a whole multitude of food and you get a pretty good amount of food on the punch cards," he said. "It is an afternoon of experiencing the cultures that are part of the history of the city and particularly of the Cathedral. They are people from all the different ethnic groups that are members of the Cathedral that put this together."

According to Karla Kieler, secretary at Cathedral, there will be music with the different cultures taking turns singing. There will also be dances performed for those gathered.

The planning committee for the fair is made up of the staff at Cathedral and other parishioners. Bottaro mentioned that this is about the seventh or eighth year that the fair has been held at Cathedral.

"It has turned into a real tradition at Cathedral that people do look forward to every year," he said. "It's a ton of food, really good food. People really do enjoy it."

Bottaro pointed out that the fair had been held in February but was changed last year to early June.

"We did it outdoors. It was a big hit, so we are going to do that again this year," said Bottaro.

Activity tickets are being sold for $5 and will be available the day of the fair or at the Epiphany Center, 1000 Douglas, in the parish office. For more information contact the parish office at (712) 255-1637.