Peabody tuning up for festival

PEABODY — The 39th annual International Festival will take place on Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Peabody.

“The International Festival is the biggest party on the North Shore, and this year’s Festival promises to be the best one yet!” Mayor Ted Bettencourt said.

The Mayor’s office stated that the International Festival is free and open to the public and features a “diverse collection” of food vendors, musicians, dance performances, and local artists.

It was founded in 1984 by Mayor Peter Torigian with the goal of “celebrating and appreciating each other’s culture” and creating an opportunity for the community to come together, according to the Festival website.

The International Festival attracts between 50,000 and 80,000 people, according to the website.

Attendees can visit https://ifestpeabody.com/ for more information on everything the Festival will offer.

The entertainment schedule for this year’s festival features 13 cultural performances, which include Caribbean-style reggae, Klezmer, African-Reggae, Latin & Caribbean, Latin, Portuguese, Afro-Brazilian dance, Armenian, Greek dancers, Afro-Cuban Son, Salsa and Rumba-Flamenca, Latin oldies, and a Polish orchestra, as listed on the festival website.

Entertainment Schedule:

Peabody Square Stage
11:00 a.m. Warszawiaki Orchestra

12:00 p.m. Rancho Folclorico de Peabody

1:00 p.m. Sugar Kings

2:00 p.m. Ceremony

2:30 p.m. Sayat Nova Dance Company

3:15 p.m. Jah Spirit

4:15 p.m. Grupo Fantasia

Upper Main Stage

11:00 a.m. The Brian Maes Band

12:00 p.m. Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band

1:00 p.m. The Camelia Latin Dance Band

2:00 p.m. St. Vasilios Greek Dancers

2:30 p.m. Sinha Capoeira

3:15 p.m. Dis N Dat Band

4:15 p.m. Mery EME & The Latin Roots Band

There are 48 food vendors and booths listed on the website, which includes sausages and hot dogs, tacos, Mexican street corn, empanadas, and pastries.

The Mayor’s officer stated there will be street closures in the downtown area of Main Street on Sept. 15 beginning at 6:00 a.m. and there will be no parking allowed on Main Street and parts of Foster Street.

The rain date for this year’s festival is Sept. 22.

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