(upbeat music) - The Living Traditions Festival is a free community festival celebrating the cultural diversity of Salt Lake City.

It's hosted by the Salt Lake City Arts Council.

And here to tell us more is Laurel Cannon Alder and Zeynep Kariparduc.

Hi, ladies.

Welcome.

Thanks so much for being here.

So, Laurel, why don't we start with you, and let's just talk about the festival.

It's now in its 39th year.

- Can you believe that?

- No.

- We are thrilled to be here.

We're thrilled to be talking about what I think is Salt Lake's just most vibrant gathering.

It's really a wonderful weekend.

It's free, as you mentioned, and that means that you can come and enjoy.

You can take tracks, you can drive down and you can bike.

There's bike parking.

And you can enjoy the diversity and the vibrancy of our amazing city.

So we have food, we have performing artists, and we have craft artists.

And we've brought a craft artist, Zeynep, with us today.

She's not only an amazing craft artist and performer, but not this year, but she's also on our advisory board.

- Great, and I know, Zeynep, you and I were talking earlier just about how very diverse the city is.

And I know you're celebrating, what, 80 different ethnic groups at the festival.

So kind of talk about why it's so important that we celebrate and appreciate that.

- Yeah, it's great because celebrating different cultures brings us strength and brings us a broader perspective and how beautiful they are.

And by celebrating them, enjoying all the artworks and dances and art activities, and you will get to learn world is so large, and we bring all different, unique pieces here.

And I think it's such a great opportunity for us to celebrate our diversity all together.

- Exactly, and I have to say, it's one of the most fun festivals around.

So thank you both so much for being here.

Thank you.

- Thank you.

- And if you would like to know more about the Living Traditions Festival coming up this May 16th, 17th, and 18th, it will be at Washington and Library Squares, downtown.

Go to saltlakearts.org, saltlakearts.org.

I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact."

(upbeat music) - Local events, arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

Here on Contact, we introduce you to local events and organizations that serve your neighborhood.

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