Hoffman Estates celebrates diversity once more with unity
The concept of assembling a festival to celebrate a community's diversity isn't something new.
Other towns, like Elgin, hold their own diversity events, but Hoffman Estates' Unity Day has really taken off over the last nine years in Hoffman Estates, where 25 percent of population is an ethnic minority.
It's the second-most attended festival, behind Fourth of July. This year's event is Saturday.
"I really don't know why it's so popular," said Pearl Henderson, head of the village's cultural awareness commission. "Each year it seems to just get more and more people."
Maybe it's the food? The culinary delights span the globe. Sushi, hot dogs, burgers and Indian food will again be available.
This year Henderson said the commission and the Hoffman Estates Park District wanted more activities for children. They plan on having a Hoffman Estates police K-9 present for a demonstration.
There's a little friendly competition this year. Unity Day will take place at the same time as the village's arts and crafts fair. Henderson said her organizers pushed back Unity Day, which normally takes place on the third Saturday of the month. The move was to accommodate one of the entertainers who was unavailable earlier in the month, Henderson said.
"I hope we have enough people to be at everything," she joked.
The Second Baptist Church of Elgin choral ensemble will also make its first Unity Day performance.
The Unity Walk, where walkers answer questions about flags from across the globe, returns again. The scavenger hunt brings out families wanting to win prizes.
"People were coming out and bringing dictionaries and everything," Henderson said.
Henderson hopes to draw a big crowd.
"Visit with your neighbor, meet a new friend, have food and enjoy entertainment," she said.
Hoffman Estates Unity Day
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Where: Virginia Hayter Village Green, on Prairie Stone Parkway off Route 72 in the Prairie Stone Business Park.
Admission: Free, and a gift will be given to the first 125 to arrive.
Call: (847) 781-2606
Event schedule
9:30 a.m. 2k walk/flag contest/continental breakfast and DJ Nelson Saez
10:15-10:45 a.m. Grupo Folklorico Quetzal Hispanic dance group
10:45-11 a.m. Mayor William McLeod speaks, flag contest award presentation
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch
11:05-11:25 a.m. Midwest Buddhist Temple Taiko Group percussion group
11:30 a.m.-noon Indian dance by students of Vidya Babu
Noon-12:30 p.m. Second Baptist Church of Elgin choral ensemble
12:35-12:50 p.m. Mayer School of Irish Dance
12:50-12:55 p.m. Cultural Awareness Commission chair comments
12:55 p.m. DJ Nelson Saez