Mobile International Festival: ‘Travel the world in one day’

If you’re thinking about visiting the Mobile International Festival, Ester de Aguiar offers “the same advice I would give any traveler: Wear comfortable shoes, grab your passport, just be ready for fun. Bring a great appetite, to be able to sample all the different food.”

“Our whole idea is to allow our guests to travel the world in one day,” said de Aguiar, director of the fest.

For many, the festival needs little introduction: Now in its 41st year, it has long been a popular field-trip attraction for schoolchildren in the region – so, in many cases, its youngest visitors are the offspring of parents who attended it themselves, back in the day. But you don’t have to arrive in a yellow bus: Every year, the festival follows its student days with a concluding family day that’s open to the public.

It’s a popular event, and not just because admission is free for children. Overall, the event draws tens of thousands of patrons, thanks to its mix of attractions. These start with booths representing the cultures of participating groups, an international food court, and a full slate of entertainment.

While many of the entertainment acts hail from outside Mobile, de Aguiar said it’s important for people to understand that this is not a touring event. The member organizations that staff the booths and the food court represent the cultural groups living in the Mobile area. They have roots in more than two dozen countries.

“It is a homegrown event, and it is a reflection to me of the diversity of the city,” she said.

While the event is familiar to many, there’s always a twist or two. This year’s theme is “Hidden Treasures.” “We’re trying to showcase beautiful things about the various countries that people would normally not know,” said de Aguiar.

Another is that the festival’s Parade of Flags will have a different group leading it this year: Mobile’s own Excelsior Band, which in 2022 was honored with a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.

“They’re amazing. They are legendary,” said de Aguiar. “They are one of our hidden secrets here.”

Family day is coming up. Here’s what you need to know:

Where, when, how much?

The 2024 Mobile International Festival will be open to the public on Saturday, Nov. 23. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Hocklander Hall and the Grand Ballroom at The Grounds, 1035 Cody Road N. in West Mobile. Tickets can be ordered in advance through mobileinternationalfestival.org. Children 12 and under are admitted free; prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students older than 12. Parking is free. For updates, visit the Facebook page.

What’s the lineup?

Mobile International Festival is known for a continuous schedule of entertainment featuring music, dancing, and other performances on two stages. The Excelsior Band will lead a Parade of Flags at 11 a.m. Acts scheduled to appear before the parade include Africatown drummers, Red McWilliams (Celtic), Manuela Talavares (Peru); Peruvian dancers; Capoeira (Brazil), Las Ninas Bonitas (Mexico), Irish dancers and Nalina Chitrakar (Nepal).

Acts scheduled to appear after the parade include belly dancers (Egypt), Leron Harrison (Japan), Las Ninas Bonitas (Mexico), Capoeira (Brazil), Shaolin Institute (China), Garam Masala (India), Africatown drummers, Peruvian dancers, Red McWilliams (Celtic), Manuela Talavares (Peru), Nalina Chitrakar (Nepal), hula dancers, Ukrainian choir.

What’s on the menu?

When it comes to dining at the Mobile International Festival, the word “smorgasbord” springs to mind. Food is both a big part of many cultures and a universal medium of cultural exchange. This year’s event features 22 food booths, in a familiar format that encourages browsing and sampling: portions are small but prices are low, so a hungry patron can piece together a meal from whatever catches his or her eye. De Aguiar estimated that the average person can eat their fill for $10-$15.

What’s this about a passport?

You don’t have to bring a real passport. But you (or a younger member of your family) can pick up a festival passport on the way in, and get it stamped at the booths you visit. It’s the must-have festival souvenir.

Speaking of souvenirs, de Aquiar has another word of advice: “Just bring a tote bag because a lot of our members, they have souvenirs. It’s a great place to do your Christmas shopping because you have unique gifts, very inexpensive.”