The Language Capital of the World Cultural Festival

Don't miss the Language Capital of the World® Cultural Festival, where you can enjoy fabulous performances by an array of dancers and singers representing cultures from across the globe. Ethnic food, free mini-language lessons and cultural experiences, a variety of cultural booths, and vendors of gift items from around the world will also be available.

At 10 am, the festivities start with DLI Color Guard and National Anthem performances, followed by brief opening remarks from DLIFLC Commandant Colonel Gary M. Hausman and City of Monterey Mayor Clyde Roberson. The National Anthem will be performed by members of the DLIFLC Joint Service Choir (DLIFLC is the Defense Language Institute-Foreign Language Center).

Attendees will then be treated to a full day of fabulous international dances, music, and colorful costumes. This year encompasses nearly three dozen international performances reflecting many different languages and cultures: America (dance theatre), China (ethnic dances, fan dance, kung fu, song), India (Bollywood-style dance), Iran (folk dance), Korea (choir, fan dance, taekwondo), Japan (song), Mexico (folk dance), Middle East (Egyptian belly dance, Lebanese music), Philippines (folk dance), Polynesia (Hawaiʻian folk dance), Russia (song, folk dance), Taiwan (puppetry), Turkey (folk dance), and Vietnam (regional cultural dances).