Ethnic Fest is among Tacoma's richest, most rewarding institutions. Each July since its inception in 1986, this two-day event has attracted tens of thousands of visitors to Wright Park. Revelers are treated to art, dancing, food, and music from cultures all over the world; and this year, we'll learn more about subcultures in our own neck of the woods as well.

This year's music acts include Alex Duncan, Michael Powers, Spirit of Ojah, and Unity Choir. Duncan, an internationally renowned reggae and dancehall artist, was born on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. He then moved to Seattle, where he sings for the socially-conscious ensemble Jumbalassy.  Powers is a Seattle jazz guitarist known for his performances with Ray Charles and Herbie Hancock, along with a new album, Retro Radio. Spirit of Ojah is a Mukilteo-based band, led by Ghanaian drummer Roger Ocquaye, that plays African jazz, highlife and reggae. (Ojah is a Ghanaian word for fire, which in this case refers to the "fire" of love.) Unity Choir hails from Seattle Unity Church, an ethnically-diverse nondenominational congregation that embraces and incorporates a wide spectrum of spiritual traditions in its teachings.

I spoke with Michael Thompson, public information officer for Tacoma Parks, about this year's program. "We also have (fiddler) Dale Russ and (singer-songwriter) Mike Saunders. They play Celtic dance music." As for Unity Choir, Thompson says, "This year, the gospel music is being put on the main stage. It's been on the secondary stage for, I believe, years. It's being moved up front and center right now, so it's going to get even more attention. There's also Pleasant Movement. That's 25 dancers who are going to perform to gospel music." Pleasant Movement Dance Company's founder, Sabian Pleasant, moved from Jacksonville, Mississippi to work with Metropolitan Ballet of Tacoma.

Thompson was equally excited about several newer additions to the festival. "There's going to be a part of this that's called ‘In My Shoes,' and it's put on by several organizations including the Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities. This is a series of exhibits, areas where people can go to see what people who live with disabilities face, and there are booths set up as a way of people experiencing some of those things. ...There's a Japanese tea ceremony, and it's something people can participate in instead of just watching. There's gonna be a lot of hands-on activities. We've got African, Native American and Celtic mask-making, because masks are important in all of those cultures. We're gonna have skateboarding activities to incorporate teen culture, so we're working with Alchemy Skateboarding (and Education on that)." Fab-5, a nonprofit urban arts organization in Tacoma, will present hip-hop and legal graffiti art.

Did we mention the food? Last year's menu included such diverse offerings as alligator, Hawaiian donuts and Irish pub food, so be sure to arrive both adventurous and hungry.

ETHNIC FEST, noon-7 Sat.-Sun., July 25-26, Wright Park, 501 S. I St., Tacoma, free, 253.305.1030