This past weekend, the Midtown Global Market celebrated its 20th anniversary with the second annual Midtown Arts and Music Festival. The market is an international public market serving as a hub in South Minneapolis, bringing people together through art, music, culture and entrepreneurship.

The event, produced by Friends of Global Market, celebrates what makes people and cultures unique — whether it is discovering rising artists, supporting live music and dance performers or enjoying global cuisine.

Matt Tell, the executive director of Friends of Global Market, said the celebration of culture comes from an effort to build community in the Twin Cities.

“The more community and cultures we can bring together, the better,” Tell said. “Because when we understand each other more and people feel heard, we all do better, and people are happier.”

 Visitors who stepped into the festival were greeted by a lively whirlwind of activity. In one area, children and adults could join puppeteer Gustavo Boada to construct a papier-mâché body of a giant puppet. In other areas, tour groups were set out to explore the market’s more than 35 colorful murals on Lake Street. The central area at the festival became a dynamic community packed with neighbors, sharing food, browsing local art and cheering on the weekend’s lineup of cultural performers.

One of the dance performers was North Star Lions, who performed as traditional Chinese lion dancers. 

Chinese lion dancing, also known as “wú shī” in Mandarin, is a traditional practice in Chinese culture in which performers use a vibrant lion costume to mimic a lion’s movements, symbolizing bringing good fortune, joy and warding off evil. It is typically performed by two dancers and accompanied by drums, gongs and cymbals.

Kai Conrath, one of North Star Lions’ main dancers, said sharing the heritage of lion dancing means embracing cultural differences.

“I feel like the big part of performing is to bring people together and show them what lion dancing is, because a lot of people don’t know what it is,” Conrath said. “It’s important to show them the cultural differences, especially in a place where you know you don’t see very much of the stuff that we do. It shows people the differences in our community.”

Ryan Mai, one of the co-leaders of the Lions, said the main thing he hopes audiences take away is that lion dancing helps create unity.

“Lion dancing is meant to share joy and good luck for the new year,” Mai said. “I hope that if they come away with nothing else, they come away knowing that our culture is very similar to everyone else’s, and we can all put aside our differences and have fun together.”

One of the small businesses featured at Midtown Arts and Music Festival was Tibet Arts and Gifts, founded and owned by Ngawang Dakpa. The business sells dresses, scarves, meditation tools and precious stone jewelry from the Himalayas.

In the retailer’s history, Dakpa, who was once an auditor for the Tibetan government, was part of the early waves of Tibetan immigrants resettling in Minnesota in the 1990s. Because of Midtown Global Market, his establishment experienced steady growth— even during times when other retail businesses struggled.

Dakpa’s products are handmade by Tibetans in India and Nepal, while Tibet remains under communist rule. He said while some customers are already familiar with Tibet’s history, he uses his business to help educate others.

“There is not much information from inside Tibet, but here I try to give information to the people here,” Dakpa said.

Cam Anderson, an event and social media specialist for the market, said the venue location, being located between the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods, makes it a unique place to host.

“There’s so much culture and diversity in this neighborhood, and we’re kind of right in the heart of all of it,” Anderson said.

Anderson said the event is an effective launching pad for people to showcase their culture and craft.

“I think we’re very flexible to fit and tailor the needs of what people are trying to put on, and really display their culture to the people here at the market,” Anderson said.

Tell said that in celebrating 20 years at Midtown Global Market with its Arts and Music Festival, its mission will always continue.

“Looking at the next 20 years of the market, we’re going to be here,” Tell said. “We’re going to support the community and support people.”