Vistas y sonidos de la cultura marroquí en el aire en el Festival de la Ciudad de la Unión del sábado

Union City’s annual Moroccan Cultural Day Festival drew enthusiasts from around the Garden State to the Jose Marti STEM Academy on Saturday.

“I love the culture, the diversity and everything,” said Rita, a North Arlington resident who turned out at the festival.

“I think the food is like my favorite part because it’s like a home away from home culture and food here compared to Morocco,” said Aya, also from North Arlington.

The event, which kicked off at noon, commemorates Throne Day, a public holiday in Morocco, which marks the king’s formal accession to the throne.

“We have a big holiday in Morocco to celebrate the king and with this one we want to show America how beautiful this culture is from Morocco,” said Khadija Mouh Introna, who organized the festival.

While Throne Day was celebrated on July 30 in Morocco, Union City’s festival was held on August 9. The holiday dates back to 1933. This year’s occasion marks the developmental journey and ongoing progress of the North African country under King Mohammed VI, who has ruled since 1999.

Union City’s festival has been going strong for approximately six years. In addition to the food and music, there was a soccer tournament.

“I want to embrace the Moroccan culture you know–my pride, my country, play soccer with friends and enjoy myself and have a good time,” said Ilyaas, a teenager who attended the event.

There was also a chance to shop for traditional clothing and other items.

For Sophia Alawi, the organizer’s daughter, the festival was an opportunity to promote her short film “Lioness,” based on a true story about her mother.

“It’s kind of like ‘A League of Their Own’ meets ‘Bend It Like Beckham,’” said Alawi. “It’s about a girls soccer team in the 1970s pushing boundaries to play soccer and it’s based on a true story.

“We had a really successful fundraiser that covered half our budget so I found today was a perfect opportunity to talk more about it especially since it’s so personal to my mom.”