Celebration of Nations is back and bigger than ever this September, in its 16th year of celebrating the unique mix of cultures at Missouri S&T and in the city of Rolla. This year’s celebration on Saturday, Sept. 20, also highlights Rolla’s place on the historic Route 66, which will mark its 100th anniversary next year.   

The festivities begin with the Parade of Nations at 11 a.m.. The parade will feature the flags of 195 countries carried by Missouri S&T students, faculty, staff and community members, as well as marching bands, local dignitaries, and the ever-popular camels. 

This year the parade will start at the intersection of Rolla and 9th Streets, following Rolla Street to Sixth, turning north onto Pine Street. It will continue along Pine Street to 11th Street, before heading down Oak Street and finishing past the downtown bandshell. 

Following the parade, the celebration will continue at the downtown bandshell and festival lots. The festival will feature international foods, arts and crafts, and cultural displays, as well as an expanded family area with free hands-on activities for children of all ages. 

Live entertainment will be featured at three stages, including the Rolla Bandshell, from noon-4 p.m. Featured performers will include the Osage Ballet, the World’s Finest Rolla German Band, SLU Raas Bollywood and the St. Louis Flamenco Society. For a full list of performers and stages, visit nations.mst.edu/scheduleofevents.  

For more information, please visit nations.mst.edu. 

About Missouri University of Science and Technology 

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.