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Many ready for an afternoon culinary trip around the world stopped into the International Food Event on Sunday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Keokuk. Food samples from various countries greeted the attendees.

Not only were there great foods to sample, but also musical entertainment from the Rising Stars Children’s Choir as well as the Voice of Worship choir.

The event was put on by the Keokuk Association for Rights and Equality or KARE. According to Brenda Bradley with the group (who was manning a table with a Mexican dish) this was the third year of doing the International Food Event.

“We really enjoy the crowd showing up,” Bradley said.

Each person attending could pay $5 and get three tickets, good for one sample each of the various foods. There were dishes from Korea, Mexico, Native American, French and several others.

The Rising Stars’ first performance included several songs to provide some atmosphere to the event. Andrea Mott directs the group. One song that really got some toes tapping was a performance of the Katy Perry hit “Firework.”

The choir performs at other events throughout the year as well.

The tasting serves as a fundraiser for KARE’s annual Juneteenth event. This year that will be held on June 19, 20 and 21, with several different activities.

Debra Letcher, also a member of KARE, said some of the events from the last few years will be returning this year, including the Juneteenth Parade. It will be held on Thursday, June 19, which is the day of Juneteenth. She said the group is currently seeking entries into the parade. It will start at the Keokuk mall and go to 12th Street. Karaoke will follow at Dr. Getwell’s.

Cooking with Brenda will again take place at the Keokuk Public Library with Bradley, who will focus on one of her favorite recipes. More details about that will come out closer to the event.

KARE also will be holding another fundraiser on Friday, June 20 to help pay for Juneteenth activities.

The Soul Food Dinner will be held at the Keokuk Labor Temple, 301 Blondeau St. in Keokuk. Doors open with a social hour at 5 p.m. Dinner will start being served at 5:30 p.m. and the band, the Matt Roberts Blues Band, will start playing at about 5 p.m. and go to 9 p.m. A ticket to the soul food dinner will be $25 per person.

Then on June 21, there will be a day’s worth of activities in Rand Park. This includes the Juneteenth 5K run, a kids fishing derby at the Rand Park Pond, vendors in the park, a DJ from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then at 6:30 p.m., the band Unity of Fungk will play at the Pavilion. The band is out of Chicago and there is no cost to attend.