Lockport City School District hosted Unity Fest on May 31 as the grand finale of the year-long “We All Belong” campaign. The event aimed to ensure that every student feels a sense of belonging and to celebrate the diverse cultures represented within the district. More than 2,000 people gathered to enjoy live music, student performances and an interactive cultural experience featuring food, dress, arts and games from around the world.
One of the highlights was the Walk Around the World section, which featured more than 40 vendor booths cascaded around the Lockport High School track. The booths showcased various global cultures and local subcultures. For example, Ukrainian students displayed traditional dress; guests enjoyed henna art by a Pakistani artist; My Brother’s Keeper gave (temporary) cultural tattoos; LHS and Aaron Mossell Junior High students hosted a face painting booth where they painted flags from around the world on students; the Warlocks robotics team taught about STEM life and engineering culture; African-American students demonstrated hair braiding; LHS West hosted a silent disco with international music; and Niagara Pride provided information on June Pride events and local resources for residents of the LGBTQ+ community.
Olivia O’Sheehan, a sophomore at LHS, expressed her excitement: “Unity Fest was awesome! I loved sharing my ballet culture. It made me feel proud of the years of practice and hard work at the studio and I was so happy to share it with everyone who stopped by my booth.”
Attendees were treated to a vibrant array of live music and student performances. Students showcased their talents through singing, dancing, and reciting poetry, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the school district.
Professional bands such as The Polka Boyz, Family FUNKtion and the Sitar Jams, Comienzos, Emerald Isle, and Uptown Groove kept the crowd dancing for hours.
In addition to the arts, the event featured a lineup of activities including a kickball tournament, for which 70 LHS students signed up to compete for the championship title. At the end of the night, “The KickBallerz” team earned first place.
Younger students had the opportunity to participate in a kindergarten football clinic led by Coach Trait Smith and the LHS Varsity football team. Following the kindergarteners’ game, LHS hosted a co-ed flag football game that excited the crowd that filled the stadium seating.
Nora Bruning, a grandparent of a first-grader at George Southard, commented: “As a grandparent, it was wonderful to see my grandson so engaged and enthusiastic about learning different cultures. I was also able to meet some of his friends from his class and their parents.
The event brought everyone together. It was so special to get an inside look at the wonderful things the Lockport City School District is teaching our children.”
One of the most heartwarming moments of United Fest was the Kindness Parade, during which more than 100 students from all eight schools displayed chains of random acts of kindness. Students lined the entire Varsity soccer field with chain links inscribed with random acts of kindness, showcasing the thousands of kind acts exchanged by students throughout the year and highlighting the community’s spirit of compassion and the district’s commitment to Rachel’s Challenge, an anti-bullying program.
District superintendent Mathis Calvin III said, “Unity Fest truly embodied our ‘We All Belong’ campaign. Seeing our students and community come together to celebrate our diverse cultures was heartwarming and inspiring. This event is a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and unity.”
Cultural food tastings were another highlight of the evening, featuring an eclectic mix of cuisines from around the world. Visitors enjoyed dishes from Dr. Bird’s Rasta-rant (Jamaican), Zoe’s (Greek), Chester’s (Cajun), Aprieta Monster Food Truck (Puerto Rican), Molinaro’s (Italian), Pierogi Pete’s (Polish), KP Smokehouse (Southern), and Terroir General Store, which provided Indian Chai Masala. In addition to these tastings, a variety of food trucks, including Maria Bene Cibo (Italian), Baby Ribs (Southern), The Roast Beast (American), and KCafe (Korean), kept the crowd well-fed and eager to sample the global flavors.
Amanda Haner, a parent within the district, said her young boys “enjoyed everything (about Unity Fest) but our favorite parts were the food tastings, the rock painting, and the dunk tank — they had never seen one before!”
Unity Fest marked a significant milestone in Lockport City School District’s ongoing efforts to foster a sense of belonging and appreciation for diversity among its students and community.
“Both our students and staff worked incredibly hard to make Unity Fest a success. It was amazing to see the creativity and dedication they put into showcasing their cultures,” said Heather McClain, director of diversity, equity and inclusion. “I am so proud that we had representatives from every single school. This event will be remembered for years to come.”