Around the World @ Oronoco Bay Park

I wanted to visit the Around the World Cultural Food Festival in Alexandria, VA, but didn’t want to drive over the bridge, so I decided to do something that was more healthy and environmentally friendly — I paddle boarded there from JBAB in D.C.

The festival explores the area’s diversity by offering various foods, crafts, and performances from more than 30 countries.

Raqs el Hob

This is the second year the festival has taken place on the waterfront, as it was on Pennsylvania Ave in D.C. before the pandemic.

Pecan Baklava from Turkey

The main star of the festival happens to be the 24 food and dessert vendors ready to serve the various cuisines from their respective countries. Each vendor is selected after an extensive process of careful consideration. There is a limit to only one restaurant per country to ensure a diverse selection for visitors.


Karedok Jawa Barat (cabbage, long beans, cucumber, bean sprout, shrimp crackers) from Indonesia
Carne en palito (steak & fries) from Equador
Mango sticky rice from Thailand

After feasting on food from five different countries, it was time to enjoy music and dance from around the world.

After feasting on food from five different countries, it was time to enjoy music and dance from around the world.

Brazilian drummers from VAVA United School of Samba
VAVA United School of Samba

Raqs el Hob
Time to head home before the sunsets

Time to head home before the sunsets