At 11a.m. on Saturday, Sep. 16th, the streets of downtown Houghton will be filled with cultural traditions from around the world as the Parade of Nations sweeps through the area. This will be the 34th annual event, and the theme is Fairytales from Around the World. During this event, students will get a glimpse of the rich cultures that other Michigan Tech students share. After the parade, join the community at Dee Stadium for cultural foods and music.
Parade of Nations is a long-standing tradition for the beginning of Tech’s fall semester. Many students and the Houghton area community come together to watch the parade and try new foods afterwards. The parade features both floats and walking groups from various cultures within Tech, and various student organizations. Every year is different, and for many students the parade is a fun annual event. Tim Peters, a third year who has gone to every parade since his first year, shared his thoughts on the event, sharing that “having been to a few Parades of Nation, I find it a good thing to see the surprisingly diverse population of Houghton as well as how involved everyone is.”
As well as being an annual Michigan Tech tradition, the Parade of Nations incorporates the Keweenaw community. Many people bring their families to enjoy the festivities, and since the parade goes through downtown Houghton, many of the local businesses have the opportunity to see more customers. The parade is also a good way for new students to get more familiar with the community while celebrating diversity.
