Sanford celebrates culture with dance, music, and community fun

From lion dancers to local hip-hop, Azeneth Angeles’ project celebrates Sanford’s diversity and spirit. In under 12 weeks, Angeles brought the event to life, celebrating Sanford’s cultural diversity through music, dance, food, and community. The city’s Multicultural Celebration was the capstone project of East Carolina University student, Angeles, the first intern with Sanford’s Parks and Grounds department.

The lineup featured five performance groups that honored the past, engaged the present, and inspired the next generation, alongside local favorites Tacos El Primo and SweeTie’s Raspados.

“I think it’s great,” said Jessica Wess, communications specialist for the City of Sanford. She pointed at crayons in Spanish with a toddler whose parents were teaching him to be bilingual. “Any activity that brings the community together is amazing… Sanford is the place to be now. This is the place to raise kids.”

The event emphasized community connection, highlighting groups such as Lee County’s Magetsi 4-H Club. Myrna Rodriquez, the volunteer director, has taught traditional Latin dance for 17 years and has seen students return as instructors or leaders of their own dance groups.

“I’ve been in the dance group since I was a toddler,” said Vanessa, Rodriquez’s 11-year-old daughter, laughing with her fellow performers following their showcase. The group includes members from elementary age to incoming college freshmen. “I moved away when I was younger, but I rejoined when I came back,” said Sarah, 12. “I didn’t want to be separated from my friends.”

“I love doing this dancing,” added Crystal, 16. “It connects me back to my culture.” 

“This dancing has brought me to new places,” said Jalixca, 18, who is heading to UNC-Greensboro next week to study finance. “I’ll be joining a dance group,” she shared when asked about her future dance plans. The group will be performing next at Sanford Farmer’s Market’s “Pepper Palooza” on Saturday, August 9.

Nestled in a lawn chair in front of the stage, Sanford-native Nadine Peoples, 58, watched the performances unfold. “I found out about the event on Facebook,” she said, sharing that she loves to attend community events, “from Broadway to Fuquay.”  

“I expected it to be bigger, but I’m excited to be here.” She added that she hopes to see more African, Indian, and Asian cultures represented in the future.

Two of her grandchildren ran up to show off the handmade African bracelets they had made, featuring wooden and lettered beads. As they skipped back to the table, People called after them. “Make me one!” Her grandson, Julian, turned back with a gleeful shout of excitement. “I love that it’s a safe place,” she said. “Sanford is a safe haven.”

City and County departments partnered to provide free resources, including a mobile police unit offering air-conditioned relief. The City’s Planning Department highlighted its Safe Streets initiative, inviting residents to submit feedback about local infrastructure.

“I love doing work like this,” said Kate Munn, community engagement librarian at Lee County Library, who helped run the booth. “We brought multicultural books, Spanish-language books, and heritage-focused titles—focused on the needs of the event.” The library offered attendees the chance to register for cards and check out books on-site using a mobile hotspot and laptop, a new feature that was introduced this past spring.

Munn also promoted the library’s ongoing event series, including the annual PopCon and Renaissance Fair, which is expected to draw over 3,500 attendees on Saturday, August 16.

The lineup included a high-energy performance from Raleigh-based Empire Lion Dancers, who shared traditional Chinese celebratory dance in full costume. Greg Whitt of Drum for Change followed with African storytelling accompanied by percussion, encouraging audience participation.

Tyrone McDonald, 48, and his eight-year-old son were among those drawn into Whitt’s performance. “We’re usually here for about an hour, but we’ve been here for three,” he said, laughing. A former youth football coach, McDonald said he hadn’t heard of the event before arriving but was impressed. “Parents want more things to do at the park while they watch their children play. It makes you want to stay longer.”

He noted his son typically chooses video games, but today he gravitated toward the African drum rhythms. “There’s division over culture and race in other areas,” McDonald said, acknowledging the national backdrop. “This event lets your child interact and see them.”

Sanford-based Danza Azteca Olin closed out the dance portion of the event with a ceremonial performance honoring their Mesoamerican heritage. The dancers burned copal incense and wore traditional Aztec headdresses known as copilas, adorned with pheasant feathers and porcupine spines, some with price tags over $500.

Marta Garcia danced alongside her brother, a 35-year veteran performer, a family friend from church, and her seven-year-old granddaughter, who took to the stage for the first time on Saturday. Their movements were accompanied by ayoyotes, tree nut shells attached to leather bands and worn on their ankles, producing a rainfall-like percussive element. The performance honored the four elements and four directions, blending reverence for the spirits around us with inclusivity of the next generation.

With the clouds parting to reveal pastel blue skies, the day ended with a performance by Rob Young, a Sanford native now based in Atlanta with AOP Muzik. Known for his soulful blend of R&B, Hip-Hop, and Folk, Young performed a mix of original songs and covers. He also spotlighted fellow Sanford artist Will-I, an up-and-coming rapper with a story of resilience, and JP, a Trinidadian artist who reached out to Young for a collaboration. Young encouraged the crowd to join in, inviting attendees to line dance and children to “jump around,” an offer some happily took up.

Young’s 14-year-old son Khamari also joined him on stage for their track “Hey, It’s a Good Day.” Despite a broken bass guitar strap, Khamari played confidently. “He always asks if he can play with me, which is a blessing,” said Young, beaming at his son before the song began.

Each performance on Saturday honored cultural roots while uplifting the next generation. “We’re really happy to be here today,” Young said with a proud smile. Then, with a grin that drew laughter from the crowd, he added, “But you’re still going to school on Monday!”

Aug. 4, 2025

Diara J. Townes

Journalist