Tucson Meet Yourself returns with pandemic precautions

[ad_1]

TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD News 13) – Tucson Meet Yourself is back in its 48th year. It’s a three day folklife festival featuring music, dance, art, and lots of food from many different cultures living in Tucson.

It practically happened last year due to the pandemic, but this year it’s back in person with some strategies to contain COVID. In addition to vaccination, masking is recommended. The organizers also have a limited number of vendors this year. This year it is around 30% less than in previous years.

“Everything is back and a little different. So we really redesigned the festival to take everyone’s safety into account, ”said Kimi Eisele of the Southwest Folklife Alliance.

That means fewer performers, fewer vendors, and social distancing whenever possible. Last year during the pandemic, they had a virtual festival with around 40 online events. This year everyone was looking forward to coming back, but in a safe way.

“I think everyone felt a little hesitant at some level just to be out in public in a new way,” she said. “But one of the nice things about the folklife Alliance and Tucson meet yourself is that we have a very close relationship with all of the vendors and artists we work with. We have been working with some of them for 48 years. “

And this year something new was added: the loss and memorial tent.

“I had the feeling that when we come together with parties and celebrations, we also need a place to record and acknowledge the loss, and that is this place,” explained Eisele.

Tucson Meet Yourself is a way to get to know all of different communities and cultures. Mine Calik has been with us for 14 years. She says she does other festivals, but this one is the biggest and biggest of them all.

“So we do water marbling art. The Turkish name is ebru. It’s very old, traditional art. It goes back to the 13th or 14th century, ”Calik said.

At last year’s online event, they missed being able to show their art. This year she is happy to see many familiar faces.

The same goes for Sierra Skulls owners. Nickey Sierra comes to the festival every year and is overjoyed to have it back.

“I was so grateful because everything was up in the air. You didn’t know how long it would take So hopefully we have a good turnout and hopefully everyone is vaccinated, ”she said.

If you need your COVID-19 vaccine, the Pima County Health Department has a vaccination clinic on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The organizers say they have over 50 different performing groups this year. Tucson Meet Yourself runs through this Sunday here is a link to the full schedule.

Copyright 2021 KOLD News 13. All rights reserved.

[ad_2]