A well-known Columbia musician is encouraging families, the youth and everyone to attend Thursday’s first annual Columbia Arts Festival.
It will take place Thursday from 5-9 pm at the Boone County Courthouse plaza in downtown Columbia. Rapper NicDanger tells 939 the Eagle that the festival’s purpose is to unite, educate and motivate the community through the arts.
“The purpose of this festival is to give a safe space for community members and families to come together and have exposure to different cultures, resources and to really connect and engage. Columbia Arts Festival is a place where you can meet the friend you never had,” NicDanger tells reporters.
NicDanger, whose name is Nicholas Rodriguez, says the festival will be a safe place for everyone to have fun, express themselves and be exposed to new cultures and experiences. He grew up in Columbia and tells 939 the Eagle that attending a popular festival years ago helped him in music and in life:
“Some of the people I know today and connections I have today are from the Twilight Festival, because there was a time when you can come together with people you otherwise wouldn’t see. And I think post-pandemic that it’s very important to still have a place where we can gather and exchange ideas,” says NicDanger.
Former Columbia mayoral candidate Tanya Heath is also organizing the event. Ms. Heath predicts the festival will expose the creativity of many cultures to our youth:
“And I think it’s such a celebration when we can learn about each other’s cultures and the creativity that comes out of it. Learning how everyone dances, how everyone moves. The type of interest and friendships that can be built,” Ms. Heath says.
Thursday’s festival is from 5-9 pm at the Boone County Courthouse plaza in downtown Columbia. A number of elected officials and candidates in both parties are sponsoring the event, including State Reps. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) and David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia). Boone County commissioners Janet Thompson and Justin Aldred, both Democrats. The Boone County Republican Women and Boone County treasurer candidate Dustin Stanton (R) are also sponsors.