For the 31st year in Medford, organizers are bringing a one-day celebration of culture with numerous activities, live performances, food and more to honor Medford’s diverse community.

The Greater Medford Multicultural Fair is put on by the city of Medford’s Friends of the Multicultural Fair group, with mother and son duo Debra Lee and Dillon Sage as the fair’s primary organizers.

“It’s always magical having the multicultural fair and to have people happily gathering and celebrating diversity,” said Lee, who’s also a member of Medford’s Commission on Access, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

“It’s an opportunity for people in the community to gather and experience other people’s cultures and learn more about their own culture,” said Sage, stage manager for the event.

The fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Pear Blossom Park, located at 204 N. Bartlett St. in downtown Medford. Admission is free.

“We’re going to start off with the Native American drumming, and then there’s Bollywood dancing. We have belly dancers, Japanese dancers, the Ashland Taiko and then we have music with DJ Gemineye,” Lee said.

Ballet Folklorico Ritmo Alegre, a local traditional Mexican folk dance nonprofit, will perform at the multicultural fair as well.

Alongside the festivities, arts and crafts vendors and live performances, a wide range of food vendors will have diverse dishes to try out.

“We have 14 food trucks coming to this fair, which is about double what we normally have, with different foods. We have mostly Mexican and Asian food and a lot of desserts,” Sage said.

“There’s CABA Empanadas and there’s Mary Jane’s Bento — she does Filipino and Hawaiian foods. … There’s Mahalo Shaved Ice and The Original Mexican Hot Dogs,” Lee said.

Local outreach organizations will also have booths set up during the fair. 

“It’s really helpful to have for people who may not know the community or are not as outgoing. They can find information and connect with services, so that’s why we have exhibitors as well,” Lee said.

For Sage and Lee, continuing to put on the Greater Medford Multicultural Fair is about legacy and helping people find connection and community in the Rogue Valley.

“As an Asian man, I always felt sort of disconnected in the Medford community. But having the opportunity to learn about others’ cultures and my own in a safe area was pretty important to me growing up,” Sage said. “I remember setting up (the fair one year) and I saw a small Asian family, and to see other Asian people there, I was amazed I was not alone.”

“Being able to provide that experience for people, I feel that’s what the fair’s all about — celebrating diversity and being inclusive, as well and making sure others feel seen and heard,” Sage added.

Lee organized one of the first multicultural fairs and has been involved ever since.

“Number one for me is to help bring people together and to share what we have in common while showing the diversity of our community,” Lee said.

Last year, attendees at the fair were invited to draw on individual tiles for a project led by Rose Velasquez of the city of Medford’s Commission on Access, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Organizers plan to unveil the project at the Santos Community Center on North Columbus Avenue in Medford in the coming months, according to Sage.

Fair organizers are always in need of volunteers to help out.

“It’s me, my 70-year-old mother and her employee cleaning up after the fair and setting up before the fair. … We absolutely need volunteers,” Sage said.

Volunteer roles include helping set up and take down the fair, assisting with activities like face painting and more.

Those interested in volunteering can email organizers at medfordmulticulturalfair09@gmail.com or direct message them on the Greater Medford Multicultural Fair Facebook page.

For updates and further information, see facebook.com/greatermedfordmulticultural.