On September 12th, the Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County (CAC) hosted a guided tour of the world at their 2026 Mosaic Multicultural Festival. The annual event began with rain but quickly cleared into a sunny day, rewarding the tenacity of vendors and guests alike who stuck out the bad weather to experience the sights, sounds, and foods of the world. The event encouraged a sense of adventure and exploration as it welcomed locals to explore the rich mosaic of cultures that make up our great nation. Guests began their day by picking up “travelers guides” and marked off the countries they visited as they meandered among the themed vendor booths.
Vendors decorated their booths to match a country of their choosing, and guests were invited to cast their vote for their favorite culturally themed booth. As is the case every year, the competition was fierce with many vendors showcasing exceptional creativity and dedication, but after the votes were counted, there was a very clear winner! For the third year in a row, the
Douglas County School System won the “Best Booth” award for their “Around the World” theme which showcased the various countries they support through their language and ESL programs.
This year’s festival boasted an impressive lineup of more than 30 vendors, each proudly representing a local business or organization. Vendors represented cultures from Guhlah Geechee to Greece and sold products ranging from skincare products, clothing, and pottery to massage sessions. Each vendor warmly welcomed guests with engaging crafts and cultural activities for all ages. There was a wide variety of food including Levi’s Jerk Pitt’s authentic and delicious Jamaican food, and T’acon Todo’s crowd-favorite Mexican treats.
The Multicultural Festival also showcased an array of talented performers who shared their traditional art forms with a captivated audience. To kick off the festivities despite the rain, the Alexander High School chorus performed the National Anthem inside of the CAC’s historic 
property. Standing arranged on the Victorian staircase they sang a selection of choral pieces to guests. Once the rain cleared, additional performances commenced, including drumming from the Alexander High School West African Drum Club, Reggae music by Iseen Jahsenye, and Flamenco dancing by Julie Galle Baggenstoss of Berdolé Flamenco. Johnnie Probie performed her original songs from the stage and then moved into the CAC house to run a free sound-bath experience for festival visitors. Young rapper, Salim the Dream performed his original songs, and Manga African Dance got the crowd dancing along with their performance. For the first time, the festival featured a Creole spoken word performance by Kaidee’s Productions, and the West Georgia Ukulele Ensemble returned, once again, to play their mix of patriotic, popular, and Hawaiian ukulele
tunes!
Executive Director, Emily Lightner weighed in stating, “I am thrilled that the CAC provided this platform for exploring what shapes us as individuals and what binds us together as a community. Education and awareness about the many cultures that make up our world help us to understand and love each other better.” Learn about upcoming CAC events, and programs at Artsdouglas.org, and mark your calendars for the Annual Chili Cook Off & Fall Festival on October 17th from 5 – 9 p.m. at Douglas County High School and the CAC.
The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/ Douglas County, located at 8652 Campbellton Street in historic downtown Douglasville, Georgia, is open Mondays through Fridays, 9 am to 5 pm. For directions, more information, or to make your reservations, visit www.artsdouglas.org or contact the Cultural Arts Council at 770.949.2787.