HOUGHTON — The dress, music and food of dozens of cultures could be seen between Hancock and Houghton Saturday during the annual Parade of Nations.

About 45 countries were represented in this year’s parade, said parade coordinator Cindy Lysne. After last year’s parade was rerouted due to bridge construction, this year’s returned to the traditional path from Quincy Green to Dee Stadium.

Representing Michigan Technological University’s Bangladeshi Students Association, vice chair Sontosh Sahani wore a costume head of a tiger, Bangladesh’s national animal. The tiger represents the country’s power, and also the country’s connection to nature. Bangladesh’s Sundarbans mangrove forest is the last mangrove habitat for the Royal Bengal tiger, an endangered species.

“We represent our country, and we represent the culture, the food,” he said.

Sahani and his wife, student Purnima Shahani, explained the significance of Bangladesh’s flag. The red circle in the middle represents the blood spilled by soldiers in Bangladesh’s fight for independence, which was achieved in 1971. The green surrounding it represented the nature cultivated.

Sahani wore a traditional panjabi, while Shahani wore a flowing saree.

For the first time since 2019, food was also available at Dee Stadium. A limited number of university and student groups sold food inside, including Nepal, Iran and India.

“People seem to love getting back to this component of having a chance to buy food that they don’t get to eat all the time, and it’s just a great chance to celebrate cultures that are different than the ones we’re familiar with,” said parade coordinator Cindy Lysne.

Parade of Nations gives $100 grants to each organization to offset the cost of containers and ingredients. Student groups keep whatever they earn, making it one of the biggest fundraisers of the year, Lysne said.

“We didn’t get to do this for the last two years, so this year we limited it to just student groups,” she said.

With fewer groups serving food, student organizations worked with Michigan Tech dining services to prepare more food for each group. The Bangladesh students prepared 300 meals, Shahani said.

West African countries had one of the largest percentage jumps in enrollment this year at Michigan Tech. This year’s parade had marchers from previously unrepresented countries including Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

The African Students Association’s booth included the Ghanian version of jollof rice, as well as akara, a fritter made with bean cake popular in Nigeria.

“The reality that people can come and patronize this food is mind-blowing to me, and the kind of acceptance we have among the people is very encouraging,” said James Akinola, president of the African Students Association.

Even with the increased efforts, food went quickly, with all groups selling out before 2 p.m.

People brought their food to tables downtown, including on Houghton’s new pier at Mattila Square. Someone sat down outside Dee Stadium to take in a waterfront view.

Robin Meneguzzo of Calumet and Sara Fletcher of Laurium both got food from Bangladesh. It was the first Parade of Nations experience for Fletcher, who moved to the area in 2019.

“I had always wanted to go, so I’m very happy that it’s back,” she said. “I wanted good food.”

Meneguzzo hoped the parade could bring back the full experience next year, with sit-down dining and live entertainment inside the Dee.

They both appreciated getting to see the unique aspects of cultures in the Keweenaw.

“It’s one of my favorite events of the year, and I always love coming,” Meneguzzo said. “It’s cool to see the different nations represented that are here in the community.”