A Behind-the-Scenes Snapshot at Missouri University of Science and Technology Event with Rebecca West
ROLLA, MO. – The Celebration of Nations will host its 16th year at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri this September 20, 2025. This is a vast collaboration of folks, from university administration to students of varying nations, as well as the City of Rolla planning officials. “This annual celebration brings us together to create a successful festival that champions acceptance and belonging, highlighting the strength and unity of people from every nation so that everyone feels welcome.” says Rebecca West, Engagement and Outreach Program Manager in Marketing and Communications at Missouri S&T.
West has overseen the Celebration of Nations for the past two years. When interviewed for the position in 2023, she was informed that the popular cultural festival has grown by leaps and bounds with each passing year. “Being a part of this major undertaking has been a learning curve. Fortunately, since it existed several years before I came on board, there were detailed notes and listings of contacts to call upon. Everyone loves this event so much, and due to the many folks that participate in each annual festival, the planning and execution come together quickly.” shares West.
West has witnessed expansive growth for this cultural event since she came on board with the university. This festival is not just for the campus and local community of Rolla, but it is one of the largest cultural festivals in the state. This year, the Celebration of Nations received a $50,000 grant from the Route 66 Centennial Commission, bringing even more notoriety, and likely visitors, to the popular event. The Route 66 Commission will mark its centennial anniversary in 2026, and since the Celebration of Nations parade and festival take place right along Route 66, the partnership is a natural fit.
“We are anticipating quite a few people this year.” says West. She went on to share: “The Celebration of Nations has always been in September. We have coordinated with other Missouri S&T departments to host this festival during Friends and Family weekend at the university, capitalizing on the families that visit their college students.” There is also a home football game and a Bollywood performance at Leach Theatre, which all coincide with this weekend. This weekend marks almost a month since all students arrived on campus, after summer break and classes began at Missouri University of Science and Technology, making it an ideal time for families to visit.
There are countless vendors showcasing authentic food from different cultures, as well as hand-crafted works of art and information provided for each nation represented. “The food is fabulous; the students do a great job with that.” says West. “We enjoy getting everyone involved in this collaboration. We host a committee that oversees the production, expansion, and running of this beloved festival we are proud to offer at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.” “The committee meetings are the key, along with several strategic planning meetings with the city of Rolla to assure the roadways are safe and the city can handle the large array of traffic during this fall weekend.”
One highlight of the festival is the camels, which arrive annually from John Hale’s 5H Ranch in southwest Missouri. Dr. Greg Gelles, a retired professor at the university, sponsors the camels annually. The camel rides have been a constant at the Celebration of Nations since the inception in 2009. In 2024, Hale added to his camel contribution an exotic animal petting zoo and allowed children to feed them, which was a huge hit for the many families with kids in attendance.
In addition to the appeal to kids, there is a passport game in which children are given a passport and encouraged to visit the individual vendors to learn about different cultures and receive stamps from each country. “This provides an educational experience in which kids accumulate the stamps and can choose prizes, depending on the number of stamps they attain.” shares West.
The festival is comprised of over 70 vendors and over 50 performers on three simultaneous stages. These are specially trained cultural performers from many different countries, including Asian, African, and European countries. There are cloggers, dancers, singers, and a myriad of other performers at this lively fall festival, a true community event in which families, couples, individuals, children, anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.
Since this cultural festival is hosted at Missouri University of Science and Technology, there is an obvious educational, as well as cultural, component. Rebecca West collaborates with Karen Sprous, an ELL teacher at Rolla Public Schools, to provide students with the opportunity to intern with Celebration of Nations. Sprous oversees the Biliteracy Seal program and this partnership between the high school and the university encourages high school students to learn leadership and teamwork skills as they assist with the preparations of this great parade and festival. “The kids really love helping with the festival and have so much fun talking about individual countries and doing the stamps for kid’s passports,” says Rebecca.
The parade kicks off the event and begins at 11:00 a.m. sharp on Saturday, September 20th. For more information on the event, as well as parking, the parade route, and vendors, please visit the website at: nations.mst.edu/.
