SHARING THE WORLD — The Weirton Festival of Nations, set for Saturday at the Millsop Community Center, will bring a variety of dancing, food, and music from around the world. The event, organized by the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center, is free to attend. -- File photo

WEIRTON — Area residents will have an opportunity to take in the cultures and food from around the world, while leaving their passports at home.

The Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center is set to present the Festival of Nations, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, at the Millsop Community Center.

A volunteer committee, led by chairman Dr. J.K. Luthra, has been working for several months to invite members of dancing schools and organizations, vocalists, and other performers from throughout the region, as well as food vendors and more to take part.

“So many nationalities get together under one roof. You can travel the world without a passport is what we say,” Luthra said. “We want to show there is unity and diversity. This area is known to have multiple ethnic groups from the inception on.”

There is no charge to attend.

This will be the Festival of Nations’ 13th year since it was revived by the Weirton Museum in 2009. It returned last year following a hiatus which began in 2020 with the COVID pandemic.

The festival was inspired, in part, by a similar celebration organized by employees at Weirton Steel featuring a parade of nations, songs and dances representing the cultural backgrounds of people who came to the area in search of work and new lives.

It ran from 1934 to 1944, and, typically, held on Labor Day weekend.

The modern version of the festival was organized as a celebration of the centennial of the founding of Weirton Steel, with a focus on sharing culture and community by bringing together residents and visitors to represent a variety of ethnic backgrounds.