Author Archives: Greater Portland Festival of Nations

FROM MANY NATIONS, ONE MAINE – Celebrate at 23rd Annual Greater Portland Festival of Nations (FON)

PORTLAND, Maine, July 16, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Hundreds of international flags will sway in the breeze as summer heats up on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Deering Oaks Park for the 23rd Annual Greater Portland Festival of Nations (FON). This vibrant celebration is a feast for the eyes and ears, showcasing Maine’s rich cultural diversity while preserving traditions, fostering ethnic understanding, and promoting unity. This year’s theme: “FROM MANY NATIONS, ONE MAINE.”

Festival of Nations in Maine 2025
Image caption: 23rd Annual Greater Portland Festival of Nations (FON) in Maine.

FON is thrilled to welcome back its charismatic chair, Michael O. (Michael Odokara-Okigbo), Portland’s own singing sensation. Now a celebrated singer, songwriter, and actor based in Los Angeles, Lagos, and New York City, Michael O. will headline the festival in a triumphant homecoming. The electrifying Stream Reggae Band returns as the house band, alongside a lineup of talented performers ready to dazzle the crowd.

Attendees will enjoy the scenic beauty of Deering Oaks Park while savoring delicious global cuisines from diverse vendors, dancing to live music, and exploring unique holiday shopping opportunities.

Represented cultures include African American, Armenian, Bosnian, Cambodian, Caribbean, Congolese, French, Finnish, Greek, Hispanic, Irish, East Indian, Italian, Native American, Nigerian, Polish, Romanian, Somali, Sudanese, Thai, Ugandan, and Vietnamese.

The FON is goal is to provide a fun and uplifting experience for families so this year we are proud to announce that Love Lab Studio will provide art activities for children!

Love Lab Studio is a children’s and community art studio located in Portland. They believe art is one of the tools for co-creating a better world. They are so excited to make art with everyone! For more information, please visit https://lovelabstudio.com/.

Highlights include:

  • Two stages of nonstop music and dance performances
  • A family-friendly atmosphere with activities for all ages
  • An expanded children’s area featuring arts & crafts, crown making, flag making, face painting and weaving

Admission is FREE! (Food and gifts available for purchase.)

COME, EAT, SING, DANCE, AND CELEBRATE MAINE’S CULTURAL TAPESTRY!

When: Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 10 AM – 6 PM

Where: Deering Oaks Park, Portland, Maine

More info: https://www.festivalofnationsmaine.com/

MULTIMEDIA:

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NEWS SOURCE: Greater Portland Festival of Nations


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Sixteenth Annual Greater Portland Festival of Nations (FON)

PORTLAND, Maine /ScoopCloud/ -- Hundreds of international flags again will sway in the breeze and the summer will HEAT UP on Saturday July 28, 2018 at the Deering Oaks Park; a feast for your eyes and ears will be displayed throughout the Sixteenth Annual Greater Portland Festival of Nations (FON). FON proudly celebrates and highlights Maine's great ethnic diversity, perpetuates traditions, encourage ethnic understanding, and promote unity in Maine. FON's theme this year is "FROM MANY DIFFERENT NATIONS, TO ONE MAINE."

The coordinators of the FON are thrilled to again welcome back our Chair, the singing sensation and Portland's own Michael O. (Michael Odokara-Okigbo). Michael O. will take the stage as the main event. This is a homecoming for Michael O. who is now a singer, songwriter and actor in Los Angeles.

In 2013, Michael released his first EP, "In the Beginning." Within 24 hours of its official release, "In the Beginning" was #3 on the iTunes Soul charts, #4 on the iTunes R&B charts. In the state of Maine, the CD was the #1 selling local CD at Bull Moose for the entire year of 2013. In 2015, Michael O. appeared in the major motion picture "Pitch Perfect 2," and is featured on the soundtrack (which recently won the AMA for best soundtrack). Many other performers will also be showcased at the festival.

The participants at Festival will enjoy the beautiful Deering Oaks Park while sampling the exotic delicious food from diverse vendors - featuring foods from all around the globe, dancing into the night to drumming and music from diverse musicians on stage. Some of these ethnic and diverse vendors from different nations including African American, Armenian, Bosnian, Cambodian, Caribbean, Congolese, French, Finnish, Greek, Hispanic Nations, Irish, East Indian, Italian, Native American, Nigerian, Polish, Romanian, Somalia, Sudanese, Thai, Uganda and Vietnamese. FON offer its guests great opportunity to get an early and unique start on holiday shopping.

The exciting parts of the festival are two stages of non-stop music and dance performances that will thrill our audience of 5,000. The beautiful Deering Oaks Park that is a perfect venue for this family-friendly event, that offers a wide variety of entertainment for adults and children and the expanded children's entertainment area for the little one's enjoyment that will include face painting, exciting games, crafts, train rides, come, and taste the fantastic spices favors of Maine's ethnic communities.

The festival is FREE to the public and family oriented.

Come and taste the fantastic spices and flavors of Maine's ethnic communities.

COME, EAT, SING, DANCE AND HAVE FUN!
When: Saturday, July 28, 2018; 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Deering Oaks Park, Portland, Maine
Admission is FREE - Music, Dancing and Much Fun (food and gifts are extra).

Learn more about Greater Portland Festival of Nations at: https://www.facebook.com/greaterportlandfestivalofnations/

News from Greater Portland Festival of Nations

Hundreds of international flags again will sway in the breeze and the summer will HEAT UP on Saturday July 28, 2018 at the Deering Oaks Park; a feast for your eyes and ears will be displayed throughout the Sixteenth Annual Greater Portland Festival of Nations (FON). FON proudly celebrates and highlights Maine's great ethnic diversity, perpetuates traditions, encourage ethnic understanding, and promote unity in Maine. FON's theme this year is "FROM MANY DIFFERENT NATIONS, TO ONE MAINE."

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