Gathering 5th Year, Strongest Ever

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Once again, cultures from around the world came to Waterbury celebrating the City of Neighborhoods with costume, food, dance, singing, parades, and more.  The biggest event ever - in fact the biggest of it's kind in all of New England according to the local print newspaper - had representation from at least 65 world cultures.

Yet there was no need for passports.  The culturally diverse city is said to be home to over 110 cultures, many of which have distinction in specific neighborhoods.  For decades, "The world sets it's time to Waterbury" because of the clock, watch, gyro, and timer industries.  This, "the Brass Capital of the World", has a strong heritage of neighborhood identities.

The Gathering is perhaps the most apropos homage to a city of such rich and significant importance to Connecticut and in fact to the United States during it's early formation.  
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The costumes and dance styles of cultures from around the world proved energetic, lively, and bright.  Many of the costumes flaunted feathers and frills, and hats larger than life.  Music from across the globe also filled the four stages, and inspired in-prompt-to dancing crowds.  Experienced dancers tantalized the audience with synchronous movements - flashing brilliant colors, abundant skin, and, in some cases, snakes of the cobra kind.  Dancing horses awed children of all ages, rolling carts of Italian ice cooled and quenched many neighbors-for-a-day, and exotic foods of varying temperament and plentiful spice satisfied the curious and the hungry.
 
Scotland, Spain, Turkey, Panama, Jamaica, Mexico Nigeria, Uruguay, Indonesia, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Congo, Cuba, Greece, Ghana, Lebanon, Ireland, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Portugal, Yemen, Venezuela, Albania, England, Germany, Costa Rica, Honduras, Kenya, China, Botswana, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Lithuania, Uganda, Cuba, Japan, Native America, Senegal, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Afghanistan, Africa, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Chili, Canada, Brazil, Guatemala, Guyana, Trinidad, Tobago, Nepal, Panama, India, Columbia, Italy, and, of course, the United States of America came together in a population rivaling a small town.
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Specific organizations which were also present include UNICO National, and the National ​Association for the Advancement of Colored People local branch. the Institute for American Indian Studies, New Life Church, and others.

Sponsors for the event include The City of Waterbury, Waterbury Hospital, Saint Mary's Hospital, Main Street Waterbury, the Tindall law Firm, Children and Family Aid, the New England Peace Center, Thapa's Convenience Store, WATR 1320 AM, WPRX 1120 AM, and the Waterbury Observer.

Dignitaries included Mayor Neil M. O'Leary, event organizer Geraldo Reyes, Aldermanic President Paul K. Pernerewski, several alderman, Connecticut State Senator Joan A. Hartley, Connecticut State Representative Larry Buttler, Aldermen Brunelli, DiGiovancarlo, D'Orso, Giacomi, Noujaim, and others.
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