Mac Cummins, the new chief executive officer of the Reston Association, worked at the organization's tent, just one of many onsite vendors. Cummings saw the Multicultural Festival through the lens of a newcomer to the community.

Cummins described the festival as an opportunity to bring people together and foster a sense of community through a greater understanding of diversity and difference. He estimated that thousands of people were in attendance, enjoying the music and opportunities to showcase diverse backgrounds and histories.

"It relates to Bob Simmons's vision of building community through interaction and physical space," said Cummins. "That was his core concept. Those goals lead to this type of gathering."

Mestre Jelon Vieira founded Capoeira Luanda in 2007 and has groups training in more than ten academies across the United States and countries worldwide.