Courtesy Photo The author and his grandson at the 2014 Parade of Nations Multicultural Festival at Dee Stadium

HOUGHTON — This Saturday is Michigan Tech’s Parade of Nations. It is an event I know quite well and have been a part of, in one way or another for most of the events 30+ year history. While I encourage you to attend the parade and multicultural festival that follows, I will be at neither as a family wedding takes a higher priority.

As I said, while I have been involved for more than 20 years, I rarely watched the parade itself. There were a couple of years in the late 90s where my wife, Maryann, and I provided the commentary for the local cable company’s broadcast of the parade on a public access channel. We took our job very seriously and spent hours doing research on the participating countries so as to offer interesting tidbits (“Did you know the capital of Nepal is also the name of a Bob Seger song?)

But most of my memories surround the years I served as Emcee for the talent show at the multicultural festival. If I had to sum up those twenty sum years in one sentence, it would be “what a blast.” Understand, the host for this particular event is also the stage manger, handling the inevitable schedule changes, including some diva moments where performers walked off displeased with one aspect or another.

Because several acts returned year after year, I developed friendships with several area performers — Country legend Jan Arnold, Bob Hiltunen, Key Seppala and her amazing Kivajat dancers, the KBIC drummers and more. Not only were there scores of amazing performers from the ranks of MTU international students, but the local acts, including those I just mentioned, plus the local KBIC Drummers, cloggers, belly dancers and so much more.

There were also some pretty impressive guests over the years, the Hoop Dancing Family, the Cass Tech Marching Band and the Peruvian band Inti Raymi, stand out.

Just because I was the host didn’t mean I couldn’t have my favorites and I did. I made no secret that the highlight of each talent show, to me was the Indian Students Association with their Bollywood dance numbers. I smile thinking of them.

In later years, my role expanded from announcing the acts to acting as wannabe Monty Hall, giving thousands of dollars in prizes over the years. Our rapid fire trivia questions and other assorted games, filled up voids while acts were setting up.

It isn’t until you get behind the scenes in an event such as this do you realize how much work is involved. The young men and women who worked with Sound and Lighting Services deserve special mention. They really make the show year after year.

The best part was seeing friends, and sometimes family, come up on the stage to share that moment with me (see photo).

So think of me while you’re at the parade or in the Dee. This year, I’ll be busy with another, very special, celebration. But maybe I’ll see you next year.