Around the World in a Day Festival Celebrates Culture Through Performances

Community members gathered to dance, sing, and share stories at the annual event in Palo Alto.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:46pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring a repeated image of a traditional Japanese hyōshigi wooden clapper, conceptually representing the cultural exchange and artistic expression at the community festival.The Around the World in a Day Festival in Palo Alto celebrated diverse cultures through interactive exhibits and vibrant performances.Palo Alto Today

The Lucie Stern Community Center in Palo Alto hosted its second annual Around the World in a Day Festival, bringing together the local community to honor cultures from around the globe through performances, interactive exhibits, and opportunities to learn traditional dances.

Why it matters

The festival aims to promote cultural harmony and understanding within the diverse Palo Alto community by providing a space for people to learn about and celebrate different traditions and artistic expressions.

The details

The event featured booths with trivia, information about library resources, and a large map where attendees could mark their family's origins. Performances included flamenco dancing by Arte Flamenco De San Jose, musical acts by the Melody Academy of Music, traditional Japanese storytelling, and cultural dances by Guru Shradha. The festival concluded with a community dance session where attendees learned and celebrated dances from different cultures.

  • The Around the World in a Day Festival took place on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • This was the second annual edition of the event.

The players

Lance LeDrew

Palo Alto Recreation Coordinator of Special Events, who created the festival for community harmony and cross-cultural understanding.

RuthAnn Garcia

Palo Alto Library Services Manager, who organized a booth showcasing the library's international language collections and programs.

Flavia Geist

Artistic director of Arte Flamenco De San Jose, the adult dance program that performed flamenco-style pieces.

Melody Academy of Music

A music school that showcased various student performances celebrating styles from around the world.

Guru Shradha

A group that performed mesmerizing cultural dances in traditional costumes.

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What they’re saying

“This is our second event, and I created it for community harmony, for folks in the community to learn and understand other cultures.”

— Lance LeDrew, Palo Alto Recreation Coordinator of Special Events

“We were invited to come out here today and table the event to showcase some of our international world language collections and programs that we provide for free at the library.”

— RuthAnn Garcia, Palo Alto Library Services Manager

“Anytime you're getting people together that are coming from diverse backgrounds, it doesn't hurt to do a little cross-pollination. We learn from each other. Even in flamenco, the dance is no longer what would be considered pure. It takes the influences of other dance forms today and includes those.”

— Flavia Geist, Artistic director, Arte Flamenco De San Jose

“It was a very welcoming crowd, which we always enjoy. Cultural events are a highlight in terms of the variety, meeting other dancers, and having fun with the audience.”

— Flavia Geist, Artistic director, Arte Flamenco De San Jose

What’s next

The Around the World in a Day Festival is expected to return to the Lucie Stern Community Center in Palo Alto next year, continuing to celebrate the city's diverse cultures and bring the community together.

The takeaway

The festival's focus on cross-cultural exchange, artistic expression, and community engagement demonstrates how events that highlight diversity can foster greater understanding and unity within a local area.