Beverly Gardens Park transformed into a vibrant tapestry of cultures from around the world on July 20, as the city of Beverly Hills hosted the third annual Festival Beverly Hills. Thousands of people from across the Los Angeles area attended the daylong celebration of the arts, which featured 25 performances unfolding across three stages, highlighting rich artistic traditions. From community salsa dance classes to a Filipino-American a cappella ensemble, the festival was a powerful showcase of performing arts and the creativity that shapes identities worldwide.
Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno was this year’s headline act, whose soulful bilingual repertoire wove together Latin, blues, folk, and Americana seamlessly. Moreno drew one of the largest crowds of the day and had the audience singing along and swaying to every note.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Canon stage to see a returning fan favorite act, the Kooban Ensemble, known for their mystical and folkloric Iranian music. Sponsored by the Farhang Foundation, the show featured Melieka Fathi performing classical Iranian dances. Before the Kooban Ensemble’s performance, Mayor Sharona Nazarian warmly welcomed everyone who came out. “Beverly Hills is a globally recognized community, and our goal is to celebrate unity,” Nazarian said.
Famous for their viral renditions of the national anthem at L.A. Kings games, members of the Korean Senior Community Center Los Angeles Harmonica Ensemble enchanted listeners with nostalgic melodies, and their colorful traditional Korean hanboks captivated onlookers. A Filipino‑American a cappella ensemble, the Filharmonic; bassist and composer Luca Alemanno, who reimagined cinematic scores by Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota; and Israeli singer-songwriter LALA Tamar, known for merging Moroccan soul with Brazilian beats, were among some of the other musical performances.
Photo by Bianca Heyward
While dance company Versa Style delivered a high-energy fusion of hip hop and contemporary choreography, the Danza Azteca troupe donned feathered headdresses, beaded garments, and ankle rattles for a show that blended Mexican ceremonial practices with dance and music.
Rounding out the program, Debbie Allen Dance Academy showed beginners how to move to the rhythm of the beat, and girls from Everybody Dance L.A. gave the community a salsa lesson, where attendees learned basics like the salsa step, step touch, the grapevine, and jazz hands. At a stage on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Canon Drive, the Asian American improv troupe Cold Tofu captivated kids of all ages with improvisational storytelling throughout the day.
“Today has been a celebration of diversity, creativity, and community,” Karla Gordy Bristol, Chair of the Arts and Culture Commission, told the crowd. “It gives context and meaning to the richness of all cultures and what makes us all so special.”
In addition to contributing to the artistic lineup, consuls general from Bulgaria, Italy, Senegal, Trinidad, and Tobago attended the festival. Gastronomic offerings reflected the day’s cultural diversity, with food trucks from Chef Mojdeh Eghbal’s with gourmet Iranian street fare, Indonesian fusion from StopBye Café, deli fare from the Deli Doctor, and classic pastas from LA LA Lasagna. Nearby, Kinrose Creamery served ice cream inspired by Middle Eastern flavors, and a candy stand from Kandi, which specializes in Swedish sweets.
“The Arts and Culture Commission is truly committed to bringing programs to you, our community, and neighboring cities that forwardly celebrate cultural diversity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging,” Bristol added. “Festival Beverly Hills shines a light on this incredible diversity, honoring the traditions of people from their respective homelands through art, music, dance, and communities.”
