The countdown has begun for the annual culture festival at Prior Lake High School. Excitement builds as students and faculty prepare for this showcase of diversity and talent. 

The culture festival, which is held at the beginning of the spring, has always required numerous hours of preparation in order to have a successful showcase for the Prior Lake community. 

In its final weeks of preparing for the festival, the various affinity groups’ board members have been diligent when it comes to planning, organizing, and practicing their specific showcases. 

The Prior Lake Latinx/Hispanic Student Union, this year’s host, has been gathering the other groups’ different performances. 

Behind the scenes, Regina Medina, founder and president of the club, began these preparations as early as December in order to get the festival smoothly running. 

“We started in December 2023 by asking around to which clubs would be able to participate and what numbers they would want to do, as well as putting signs up to get a rough number of people who would participate,” Regina said.

Regina has also been in communication with other faculty and administrative staff members to ensure the event would run seamlessly. 

“We need to talk with all the stage crew and the tech crew to make sure that everything is going well,” Regina said. 

While students put in their own efforts for the festival, the auditorium supervisor, David Tuma, also has his own set of protocols that he must take care of. 

“As the person who is responsible for all the events taking place in the auditorium, it is important to be there to provide technical assistance,” Tuma said. “What I need to know from an event like this is who is performing, what are they performing to, what technical elements are needed, and how much space do they need on stage.”

The lineup for this festival consists of the Latinx/Hispanic Student Union, the Black Student Union, the Asian Student Association, the Native American Student Coalition, the Muslim Student Association, and  the International Student Coalition students. 

Collaborative efforts between all of the clubs, including respective rehearsals are expected to be done by the final dress rehearsal.

“We have one rehearsal which is the day before, and it will be taking place in the auditorium. It can last anywhere from two to six pm because it is an early release day,” Regina said.

In order for the culture festival to be ready by Thursday, March 7th, Regina expects each of the other club’s performances to also be in order, going as far as enforcing deadlines on music needed for dances. 

Dedication is a big part of putting a big event like this one together, and each club is counting on the others’ planning to guarantee an ideal showcase. 

“We haven’t worked all together in one room yet, so to get everything in order, to make sure everything runs smoothly, to make sure we have the music playing, to make sure everything is in the correct place, we need this rehearsal,” Regina said.

Final rehearsals for the culture festival will take place on March 6th, a day before doors open to the Prior Lake/Savage community. It will go on for around four hours and longer if needed, and each performer is expected to be as ready as possible for their big night.