ALEXANDRIA, VA — The returning Around the World Cultural Food Festival in August allows Alexandria residents to enjoy diverse cultures and eat cuisine from around the world in one place.

Considered the DC region’s largest outdoor cultural festival, the eighth annual Around the World Cultural Food Festival will take place on Saturday, August 24, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., Alexandria, VA. This will be the fourth year the event will be held at Oronoco Bay Park in Alexandria, after being relocated in 2022.

This year, the festival promises a wider variety of ethnic food vendors, artisans and traditional performances than in previous years. The festival will showcase nearly 50 countries with over 150 individual foods from 24 countries, folk dances and performances from 12 countries, and goods from 110 artisans, independent consultants, small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

The countries represented at the food booths are: Cambodia, China, Egypt, Greece, Guyana, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Palestine, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, Vietnam and the United States. Empanadas from Argentina, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico and Peru are offered, as well as desserts from France, Japan, Vietnam and more. The dance artists represent Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Ukraine, Scotland and Turkey. Some of the countries represented at the booths are: Angola, Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Colombia, El Salvador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Rwanda, Scotland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Turkey and the United States.

Admission to the festival is free, but food, drinks and merchandise can be purchased.