UMLOT Cultural Exchange Festival

History

The Cultural Exchange Festival was founded shortly after the establishment of the embassies around the lake in Upper UMLOT. The council noticed that the various sovereign embassies weren't really engaging with each other on interpersonal levels, keeping things 'strictly business', which while good for healthy civic relationships was falling short of the goal with their creation. So they announced a festival every kingdom would have the opportunity to share bits of who their people are their traditions, cuisine, activities, drink, hobbies and crafts would all be given the chance to shine. Small booths dotted around the shore of the lake serving food and specialty drinks quickly became the hit of the fledgling festival and as the popularity grew the kingdoms expanded their cultural experiences and the embassy staffs became friends, neighbors, and more.

Execution

Temporary food booths, merchant vendors, performance stages and more all get erected in a single night before the festival kicks off. The single night setup is almost an event onto itself for some locals, watching the well choreographed machine execute their task with precision year after year even as the festival grows. Outside of the official event areas most of the businesses and homes decorate themselves as well to join in on the fun.
For the upper crust of society outside of the normal festival events there is also the Ambassador's Ball. Held on the evening marking the half-way point of the festival, it is the most exclusive invite on the island as it's an opportunity for the ambassadors to let their hair down a bit and casually mingle both among themselves and with wealthy and influential members of the empire. One night of elegance and opulence they get to enjoy, usually without the pressing needs of the state interfering.

Participants

While each ambassador ultimately signs off on everything their embassy arranges for the festival almost all of them utilize an official coordinator whose job is explicitly to handle the festival as well as smaller events such as inter-embassy dinners and the like. 
People from all over the world travel in to experience or contribute to the festival in a variety of ways.

Observance

It is held for two weeks, annually, every spring.

Primary Related Location

Reedan