Perry International Festival reaches its fifth annual this weekend

PERRY — The highly anticipated and award-winning Perry International Festival will achieve a big milestone this weekend. This Saturday will mark the festival’s fifth annual and will be bigger and better than ever.

According to Special Events Administrator Autumn Cameron, the fifth annual Perry International Festival will feature new and exciting performances alongside the usual lineup.

New acts include Italian band Amiata, whose members are a part of the Atlanta Orchestra, Polynesian Group Siva Maia and Argentine children’s folk singer Krys Moraska.

The festival will also feature staples such as Uso’s Polynesian Entertainment and Chien Hong School of Kung Fu.

“We always kind of start and end the festival the same, but in between we’re trying to change it up a little bit,” she said. “I’m looking forward to [Amiata] as my culture is Italian, and I’m super excited to see a band that plays traditional Italian instruments.”

A traditional Native American dance was performed at last year’s Perry International Festival. (Sandra Hernandez/HHJ)

She also announced the city will introduce a campaign during the festival called “Welcome the World to Perry.”

“Attendees can record a short video saying ‘welcome’ in their cultural language, and they can upload that so we can use those to celebrate what the International Festival is,” she said.

With this festival going on for half a decade now, Cameron believes they are doing something right and finds it very heartwarming to be able to put on this festival every year.

“It started with creating a festival where people can be entertained and educated at the same time,” she said. “It’s something that we have focused on heavily to grow it and continue to have the event. “We’re proud to provide a space where people can celebrate and educate others on their heritage.”

The festival will also have new vendors this year. Cameron said their focus was to add vendors that sold some type of cultural item.

She shared that this festival does much more than provide fun: it strengthens the community.

“Overall, it’s really about education through entertainment and it’s about connection,” she said. “We want every person and attendee to feel like a citizen of the world for a day, not just Perry.”

The fifth annual Perry International Festival will be held this Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. in Historic Downtown Perry.