Showcasing Utah's diverse cultures will take center stage this weekend at the Salt Lake American Muslim Cultural Festival, which organizers hope will attract Utahns of all stripes.

From Japanese Taiko drummers to Irish dances, the festival is designed to bring Utah's diverse cultures together, says organizer Ghulam Hasnain.

"The unmistakable theme for the event is mutual understanding," Hasnain says. "It's more than just feel-good. It's getting to know each other better."

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon will join ethnic and political leaders in kicking off the festival 3 p.m. Saturday at Washington Square, 451 S. 200 East. Vendor booths open at noon, and entertainment starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to multi-ethnic performing artists, food and children's activities, there also will be educational events at the Salt Lake City Library Auditorium on Saturday, including a 10 a.m. free screening of the film "The Message," about the origins of Islam.

At 1:30 p.m., there will be a presentation by Alice Rothchild, author of "Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resilience." Rothchild, a Jewish-American physician, co-organized the Jewish Voice for Peace Health and Human Rights Project.

Hasnain hopes such educational programs will provide better understanding of the situation in the Middle East and help overcome cultural divides here, among Muslims and non-Muslims alike. He's also hoping to boost attendance well beyond the estimated 1,000 people who attended last year.

The goal, he says, is to unite members of Utah's diverse Muslim communities "crossing continents, races and all kinds of languages," together with each other and Utah's broader community.

"The word Muslim is used in a community respect and not in a religious," he says. "It is actually a cultural festival that includes everybody. It doesn't matter what religion they belong to."

If you go...

What: American Muslim Cultural Festival

When: Saturday and Sunday

Where: Washington Square, 451 S. 200 East

Activities:

• Saturday

Salt Lake City Library Auditorium:

10 a.m. film "The Message"

1:30 p.m. Alice Rothchild of Jewish Voice for Peace

Washington Square:

Noon Vendors open

3 p.m. Mayor Peter Corroon kicks off festival

4 p.m. Vietnamese Dragon Dance kicks off entertainment. Other acts include Kenshin Taiko Japanese Drummers, Bien Flamenco and dances of the Philippines, Peru, Ireland, Central Asia and China.

• Sunday

Washington Square:

Noon Vendors open

4 p.m. Sol de Jalisco Mariachi Band kicks of entertainment, which also includes, Ahiska Turkish dance, songs by Sister Maryam & Jose Bonilla, Native American dance, Golden Voices Gospel Ensemble and the Salt Lake Saints Jazz and Dances of Universal Peace.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com