Fourteen individuals became citizens during a Sept. 24 naturalization ceremony, which kicked off the 10th annual Festival of Cultures in Centennial Park.

The event, which the Latino Community Association played host to, also featured 10 groups of varying cultures performing throughout the day. Oregon Poet Laureate Elizabeth Woody gave her keynote speech after the naturalization ceremony.

Booths including exotic foods, cultural information and local businesses filled Centennial Park and the streets surrounding the park. The festival is an annual celebration of the diversity of cultures in the Central Oregon community.

Performances were by: Central Oregon Showcase Chorus (Patriotic songs), Ballet Folklórico de Bear Creek, Filipino Bamboo Dancers, High Desert Celtic Country Dancers, Hokule’a Ohana Polynesian Dancers, Academie de Ballet Classique, Titlakawan Aztec Dancers, Chiringa Latin Folk/Rock band, Miquel de Alonso and The Nomads Middle Eastern & Balkan music and Bella Acapella Harmony Chorus.

Cultural booths included: Baha’is of Deschutes County (International Faith group), Bolivia & Chile (South America), Cambodia-Khmer Culture (Southeast Asia), Celtic Cultures (Europe), China (Asia), Costa Rica (Central America), Ethiopia (Africa), Filipino American Association of the High Desert (Southeast Asia), Ghana (Africa), Guatemala (Central America), International Cultural Exchange Services (foreign exchange students), Japan (Asia), Mexico (North America), Nicaragua (Central America), Puerto Rico (Caribbean), Shire of Corvaria (17th century Europe reenactment group), Thailand (Southeast Asia) and Yemen (Middle East).

— Reporter, 541-548-2185, cbrown@redmondspokesman.com