In the sweltering late summer weather Saturday afternoon, swarms of people milled around the Belvedere for WorldFest 2024 as part of the city’s Labor Day weekend festivities.
More than 150 vendors were on hand at the riverfront, selling foods, crafts, clothing as live entertainment filled three stages around the venue as part of one of Louisville’s longstanding traditions. The 2024 festival marks the 22nd consecutive year that the Louisville Metro Government has hosted the event, which attracts more than 150,000 people over the course of the four-day weekend, according to the city’s website.
Dorian Brown, a vendor coordinator for the event, estimated this year’s vendors represented 20 to 30 international cultures, but the diversity on display at the festival only scratches the surface of Louisville’s true range of cultural makeup.
Amos Izerimana, director of Louisville’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, said immigrants from more than 100 countries reside in Louisville.
“You see all of those countries represented in one place. It’s not something you see every day,” he said. “To see that you have all those, not just the cultures, but also the talents and various businesses represented in our city, it’s great.”
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Izerimana’s office assisted with a naturalization ceremony at the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville on Friday where 77 people took the Oath of Citizenship, solidifying their statuses as U.S. citizens as part of the WorldFest celebration.
“That was great too, just to see people with that sense of pride of becoming Americans and choosing to make Louisville home,” Izerimana said.
Walking through the congested pathways of the Belvedere provided attendants plenty of time to weigh what merchandise to buy and which cultural dishes to try as they passed by seemingly endless rows of vendors.
On the various stages, dancers and musicians provided a unique backdrop to each corner of the festival.
The Courier Journal caught up with Nichelle Thurston, owner of The Seafood Lady, who has participated in WorldFest for the previous five years. Known for seafood dishes with a Cajun twist, The Seafood Lady was opened 10 years ago to fill a gap in quality seafood in the Louisville restaurant scene, Thurston said.
When Thurston, originally from Pensacola, Florida, moved to Louisville, she found that the seafood options in town weren’t up to par with what she was used to.
“We kind of brought the trend of seafood here to Louisville, Kentucky, and it’s been great,” she said.
While WorldFest gives Thurston and her business a weekend of much-welcomed business, it’s also an unparalleled opportunity for her to network with her peers and appreciate the diversity Louisville’s food scene has to offer, she said.
After talking to The Courier Journal, Thurston sprung back into action, taking orders from the food truck’s window.
“I love your business,” a passerby told her. “I seen you on ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.’ That’s what’s up,” the man said, referring to the restaurant’s appearance on Guy Fieri’s television series that spotlights beloved restaurant’s in community’s across the U.S.
The chance to share her food and leave a positive impression on her customers, Thurston said, is another part of what makes WorldFest special.
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