“Thankfulness creates gratitude which generates contentment that causes peace,” is the slogan of the Community Peace Festival in Saint Paul’s old Rondo neighborhood, which took place this weekend at the Ober Community Center on Western Avenue.
“This is the 19th year we do this every year,” said Melvin Giles, who took the lead in organizing the festival (but didn’t want any credit). “It’s a peace celebration to help reinforce these words here, ‘may peace prevail on earth.'”
The festival brought together folks from the neighbohrood with music, free food, a climbing wall, and a bouncy dinosaur castle, as well as two-dozen tents and activities from all parts of Saint Paul.
“This is just a way to keep instill the peace in the neighborhood, peace in our homes,” Giles explained.
The event was co-sponsored by Bethel University, Community Stabilization Project, the District Councils Collaborative, Friendly Streets Initiative, and Frogtown Farm.
Carolyn Brown and Marvin Giles with the Peace Fest welcome sign.
Folks from Hoop Twin Cities offering hula.
Babatunde Lea and Jeff Kidder playing music.
Three Saint Paul Police officers.
Folks gathered around the craft table.
Toni Carter, Ramsey County Commissioner, welcoming people to the event.
Vince from Frogtown Farm. The farm is is under construction, and will be ready for planting in October.
For the 3rd year in a row, Galilee Lutheran Church was providing the ribs, dogs, and brats.
Sam Buffington is one of the people helping raise money for the Victoria Theater, on University Avenue.
“One dog or two?” Folks lining up for the food.
Brotherhood Brew selling good coffee.
The “collaborative table,” a project by Liu Qian and Jane Powers of the “Well, Then? Collective”.
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