The world’s first Festival of Faiths ™ was held in Louisville, Ky., in November 1995. Now approaching its 20th anniversary year, the highly successful and internationally acclaimed festival is being emulated by neighboring city Indianapolis.
On Sunday, September 7, from 1 to 5 p.m., the Center for Interfaith Cooperation (CIC) will present the Indianapolis Festival of Faiths at Veterans Memorial Plaza located at the corner of Meridian and Michigan streets, in downtown Indianapolis. Last year, the first such event held in Indianapolis, filled the plaza with over 50 exhibitors representing many of the faith communities that exist in Central Indiana.
This year, the event will continue the activities of 2013, featuring a colorful opening ceremony, sacred music and dance performances, and interactive exhibits that highlight the diversity and experience of faith in the Hoosier State.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, a longtime supporter of the Festival of Faiths ™, offered words of encouragement to Indianapolis:
“Here in Louisville, where we have focused on compassion as one of our pillars for building a stronger and more connected city, we’re preparing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Festival of Faiths™, an event that brings together all faith traditions to honor what unites rather than divides us. As mayor of Louisville, I want to congratulate and wish Indianapolis similar success as it prepares to mark its second Festival of Faiths in September.”
The Festival of Faiths ™ in Louisville, which is sponsored by the Center for Interfaith Relations, has drawn noted speakers from around the world and tens of thousands of participants over the years. The theme of next year’s event, May 12-17, at Actors Theatre of Louisville, will be the enduring legacy of Thomas Merton, the centenary of whose birth we celebrate in 2015.
For information about registering faith-based organizations to participate in the Indianapolis Festival of Faiths program or to become a volunteer or event sponsor, contact Charlie Wiles at Charlie@centerforinterfaithcooperation.org or phone (317) 318-5304.