The Heritage Festival is back, and students and families interested in hosting a table are encouraged to sign up.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase our diverse community, and we want to make sure everyone has the chance to sign up,” said Temi Bailey, co-director of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program.

The Boston Bridges Initiative, in collaboration with Swampscott METCO and the Students of Color Association (SOCA), is hosting the event on Friday, May 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Town Hall. Swampscott Unites, Respects and Embraces (S.U.R.E.) also supports the event. The festival celebrates family and identity.

The Heritage Festival was first created in 2019. That year, just a few tables were set up in the high school lobby after school, as students and staff shared aspects of their own heritage through food, information and cultural items. In the 2025 iteration, the festival grew significantly and was held outside at Town Hall for a Swampscott-wide celebration.

At last year’s event, the Town Hall lawn was filled with flags as well as tables manned by students and community members, representing each nation. Countries represented ranged from Brazil to Italy and from Crimea to Puerto Rico.

A group represented the Dominican Republic and served plantains with salami, chicken, rice and beans. The Brazilian table had sodas and sweet treats. Italy’s table offered caprese skewers. The Jewish Student Union hosted a table with falafel and hummus in pitas.

To sign up for this year’s event, visit https://forms.gle/uWaaLCu6DYWrRdtZ7. The form is open until the end of April.

For more information, reach out to Bailey at tbailey@swampscott.k12.ma.us or Krista Lynch at klynch@swampscott.k12.ma.us.