Food, glorious food will be served from a worldwide variety of menus at the Peabody International Festival on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Peabody Square.
"The idea of the festival, from day one, has been to share the great ethnic heritage Peabody has," said Mary Bellavance, an administrative assistant in the mayor's office who organizes the festival and has also attended each of its 27 years.
Local organizations representing Greek, Portuguese, Brazilian, Chinese, Caribbean and a host of other ethnicities will offer native specialties from more than 60 booths.
Katia Pascoal, of the Brazilian Community of Christ Church in Peabody, said she will be serving feijao tropeiro, among other Brazilian dishes.
"It uses beans and kale, almost like a salad," Pascoal said. Strips of toucinho, fried pork skin, are added to give the dish flavor and texture.
"We love the festival, we've had a booth for around 15 years," Pascoal said. "This is a city where immigrants are welcome, where they celebrate and honor the hard work of immigrants."
Lola Busta, president of the United Polish Organizations of Peabody, said their offerings will include golabki (stuffed cabbage), Polish kielbasa (sausage), and kapusta (fried cabbage), with paczki (Polish doughnuts) for dessert.
The festival is "an eating frenzy," Busta said, and her booth is "usually sold out by 2:30 p.m."
"What I like about the International Festival, it brings all the ethnic groups in the city and from the region together, so you can visibly see all the different kinds of food and entertainment," Busta said.
This year, the lineup of international performers includes The Bremer Academy of Irish Dance, the Crystal PanJammers Youth Steel Orchestra, The Musical Mavens, and the Comunidade de Cristo dancers and choir.
Another festival attraction is the Galleria, featuring work by talented artists from across the North Shore, which this year will be in the parking lot behind City Hall, Bellavance said.
Along with celebrating the variety of local cultures, the festival provides an opportunity for local nonprofits to raise funds for their causes.
"There are four school PTOs and five different Cub Scout groups" among the many nonprofits with booths, Bellavance said.
Pascoal said the money raised at her church's booth "goes to local organizations, such as Red Cross, the Peabody Education Council and the Holocaust Center Boston North, as well as to missionaries around the world."
For anyone who wants to participate in raising funds for a good cause, and perhaps make room for food, the festival is preceded by the International Road Race for Progeria Research on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Peabody City Hall, 24 Lowell St.
For anyone with room for more food after the festival is over, Peabody restaurant week will be held from Sunday through Thursday, Sept. 16. Prix fixe menus that include appetizer, entree and dessert (but not drinks or gratuity) will be available for $15 at participating Peabody restaurants and can be viewed online at the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce website.
Peabody's annual Kid's Day Celebration will also take place during the International Festival on Sunday, at the Leather City Common.
If you go
What: Peabody International Festival, ethnic food and entertainment, art exhibit
When: Sunday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Where: Peabody Square, Lowell and Central streets
Information: Peabody mayor's office, www.peabody-ma.gov; Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce, www.peabodychamber.com
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