There were festivities this past Saturday in downtown area of Port Lavca when the first annual Calhoun County All Cultures and Cuisines Celebration took place along Main Street.
The parade marched from Ann Street, along main and down to Commerce, with the parade having a valid representation from cultures as far flung and diverse as Africa, Asia and various parts of Europe as well. The costumes were dazzling to the eye with an attention to detail.

For those eyes not locked onto the glorious costumes or the sweet sounds coming from the bands marching along Main Street, there were plenty of street side vendors serving food from around the world, including that outdoor food of outdoor food’s: the giant drumstick.

Some seventy five lucky student parade participants also received a packet of coupons which included discounts on that other modern culinary delight from another culture, namely pizza.
Most of the Main Street shops were also open during the five hour event, meaning that a parade goer  could have left the event with a violin, the wheel of an authentic sailing ship and some beautiful  homemade jewelry all in one place. Live musical performances were also given after the parades ending.

Attendance for the parade seemed to be very high, an estimated 400 or so people attended the event, some of which might have been helped that the parade was held on an important day for yet another culture, St. Patrick’s Day.

The event, which hopefully will become a yearly ritual for Port Lavaca residents, was organized by Peggy Dobbins, Robert Ojeda and Rose Pena. All of these remarkable people have a connection to Port Lavaca and surrounding areas in Calhoun County and this parade was one more step along the way to reclaiming the towns Main Street.

Let’s hope we get to see them all again next year.