The city of West Hollywood will celebrate the rich traditions brought to the United States by Russian-speaking immigrants from the former Soviet Union in May, which is recognized as Russian-Speaking Community Cultural Heritage Month.

The city is hosting events that embrace the diverse identities and cultural history of Russian-speaking community members from wide-ranging areas with varied religious and social traditions.

Russian-speaking Community Cultural Heritage Month events include the Unity In Diversity Arts Foundation’s Grand Show on Saturday, May 18, from noon-2 p.m. in Fiesta Hall. The event features children and youth showcasing their talent in various dance genres and includes dancing for the audience.

The 23rd Annual WeHo Mishka Festival will be held on Sunday, May 19, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Plummer Park. The city and its Russian-Speaking Advisory Board will embrace the opportunity to explore and share the deep historical elements of the culture brought by immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Laima Vaikule, Thea Austin and Rustam Shtar will perform as part of a gala concert from 5-7 p.m. A closing reception for the Harmony Within Art exhibition in Plummer Park’s Long Hall will also be held.

West Hollywood is home to a large community of people from regions of the former Soviet Union. Approximately 11% of residents identify a former region of the USSR as their primary ancestry. For information, visit weho.org/rscweho.