The 30th anniversary of the annual Adams Morgan Day Festival took on a global and political tone. With the mix of Asian food, South American jewelry and local artwork, even the extreme heat and humidity did not deter the masses from coming out and enjoying Sunday’s festival. The global festivities took place in the heart of Adams Morgan (on 18th Street between Florida Avenue and Columbia Road) and featured music, food and artists from all over the world.

Among the menagerie of goods could be found colorful lampshades handcrafted out of different materials, “book handbags” which turn your favorite literary classic into a weekend clutch and unmistakable Ecuadorian bags and bracelets. The seller of these last items, in fact, was from Ecuador, and his goods came from the very market of Otavalo that a Georgetown group had visited only two months prior. Right then and there, the festival lived up to it’s motto of being “a global community.”

The food available was as diverse as the artistry and included an innumerable number of cuisines from around the world. Pad Thai, fried plantains and tacos were sold at the same stand, while huge outdoor grills were fired up and grilling everything from the likes of chicken and kielbasa to corn. Although the empanadas, crab cakes, curry, beans, rice, gyros and chicken marsala all looked to die for, several stands also sold the ice cold lemonade and fruit smoothies that the heat of the day called for.

The festival was put together by the AdamsMorgan MainStreet Group, “an umbrella non-profit group working to retain and promote the unique, vibrant character of the Adams Morgan business area.” The district of Adams Morgan is known to be an area that is culturally diverse and home to an eclectic array of stores, restaurants and bars. While it might be considered fairly quiet during the week, by night and during the weekends, it transforms into a lively scene.

On Sunday, the festival began with live music at noon and cultural dances with fanciful costumes in the middle of the street. Vendors lined 18th Street selling incredible worldly goods including jewelry, clothes, handbags, photos and other types of art. The jewelry ranged from ethnic bangles to simple and modern sterling silver. Many artists were displaying their work on Belmont Street, some painting next to their already finished products on display.

Photographer Joe Shymanski was selling his photos for the first time at the festival. His photos ranged from pictures of nature to the many historical attractions here in D.C. On shooting in D.C., he claimed, “[It is] a great city for photography. It is made to be beautiful … timeless, and you can never go wrong.” Shymanski, like a few other art vendors, sells his work weekly at Eastern Market.

In these months prior to the election in our nation’s capital, the event took on a political undertone with many volunteers and political activists petitioning and campaigning for their causes. Neighboring stands were displaying information about D.C. voting rights and giving away bumper stickers that bore the famous slogan, “Washington, D.C., Taxation Without Representation,” and still others campaigned for their favorite presidential candidate.

Every vendor was completely individualized, each sharing with consumers some part of his or her culture, whether that be through artistry, clothing or food, emphasizing D.C.’s role as a global community at the heart of America. An annual adventure outside the Healy gates, the Adams Morgan Day Festival celebrates the melding of the neighborhood and Washington.