Mechy Martin, of Charleston, dances to live music during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. Martin has attended Multifest for its entire 35-year stretch.
Tia Roberts, of the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island, dances during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
JoAnn Molina, of Charleston, snaps and dances along to the live music during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. used to come to Multifest as a date night with her late husband. Since his death in 2016, Molina still returns to dance in his memory. “It's our night out. We're dancing together," she said. "These are the moments that help me continue on."
Mechy Martin, of Charleston, dances to live music during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. Martin has attended Multifest for its entire 35-year stretch.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
The four-day celebration of cultural diversity features food vendors, art, education, family-friendly activities and live music.
The first evening's festivities included a cultural heritage parade, back-to-school giveaways and a Native American traditional dance performance.Â
JoAnn Molina, of Charleston, snaps and dances along to the live music during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. used to come to Multifest as a date night with her late husband. Since his death in 2016, Molina still returns to dance in his memory. “It's our night out. We're dancing together," she said. "These are the moments that help me continue on."
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
JoAnn Molina, of Charleston, said she used to come to Multifest as a date night with her late husband. Since his death in 2016, she has returned to dance in his memory. As she sits on the concrete steps, she sways to the musicians playing onstage, eventually making her way to dance with the crowd gathered below.Â
"It's our night out. We're dancing together," she said. "These are the moments that help me continue on."
Tia Roberts, of the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island, dances during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Charles Ingram, of Dunbar, has attended the festival "ever since they started. I just like supporting different cultures. We all can come together as one."
Multifest was founded in August 1989 and began as a one-day event. It has grown over the years, with the Multifest website stating the 2024 broke a record with an attendance of more than 54,000 people during the four-day festival.Â
Kanawha Boulevard East is closed for the festival in front of Haddad Riverfront Park from Capitol Street to Clendenin Street.
Diana White, of Charleston, dances to the set local band Stratus during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. White is attending the festival with her daughter, Laticia Fox.
Mechy Martin, of Charleston, dances to live music during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. Martin has attended Multifest for its entire 35-year stretch.
Shamita Smith, of Charleston, dances during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. Smith is the lead singer in the Santa Cruz Band.
Cliff Joyner, of North Carolina, runs his booth, Homemade Italian Water Ice, during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Tia Roberts, of the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island, dances during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Mitchell Gray, of upstate New York, Samarra Yazie, of North Dakota, and Tia Roberts, of Rhode Island perform a series of Native American dances during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Mitchell Gray performs a traditional Native American hoop dance during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Mitchell Gray performs a traditional Native American hoop dance during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Kalana Payton, 8, links hands in a circle during the Native American dance performance during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Teresa Garland, of Charleston, hugs a friend during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. “I come here all the time,†said Garland. “For the music.â€
JoAnn Molina, of Charleston, snaps and dances along to the live music during the first day of Multifest at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. used to come to Multifest as a date night with her late husband. Since his death in 2016, Molina still returns to dance in his memory. “It's our night out. We're dancing together," she said. "These are the moments that help me continue on."
