W.Va.’s Longest Running Multicultural Festival Returns

Multifest is back in Charleston for its 33rd celebration. The event will take place Aug. 3-6, with music and dance from local and out of town artists across four nights of free concerts at Haddad Riverfront Park. 

Food vendors and merchants will be lined up on Kanawha Boulevard. There will be a “Kidz Zone” and an information booth as well.

Tamara Eubanks, executive director of Multifest, said this is more than just a weekend celebration.

“We have people who plan their family reunions around here, we have people who plan their high school reunions, people who plan just some friendship gatherings,” Eubanks said. “So it’s all about bringing the community together and making awareness of the diversity and just remembering our heritage.”

This is the first year Multifest has expanded to four days instead of the usual three day celebration.

Multifest began 33 years ago with the goal of diversifying the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, and Eubanks has high hopes for its future.   

“We want to include not only African Americans but also Latinos, we’re looking at Hispanics, we’re looking at Native Americans, Indians,” Eubanks said. “We want to make sure that as we grow and move forward, we are inclusive of more ethnic backgrounds.”