The sixth annual San Diego Multicultural Festival celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17 Downtown along the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade, across the street from the San Diego Convention Center.

Initiated by the Centre City Development Corp. in 1998, the festival has grown annually in popularity and scope. The free event will feature a variety of food, children’s activities and entertainment reflecting San Diego’s unique cultural diversity, says Peter Hall, CCDC president.

The festival coincides with the 24th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade. This year’s festival is sponsored by Chase Home Finance, Bosa Development, Sempra Energy, CCDC, the city’s Commission for Arts & Culture, San Diego County, Hewlett-Packard, AFL Telecommunications, KUSI-TV, PennySaver, Magic Johnson’s Starbuck’s Urban Coffee Opportunities, Wells Fargo and the San Diego Padres.

More than 10,000 people attended last year’s festival. This year’s festival highlights will include two entertainment stages featuring 16 multicultural performers including Hookupu-O-Hawaii, Bayou Brothers, the Kinhal Sisters, Areito Borincano, Eveoke Dancers, Lucky Lion Dancers and Montgomery High School’s Mariachi Azteca.

The San Diego Children’s Museum will have hands-on activities and the Rad Hatter will offer additional entertainment in the children’s area. More than 80 food and merchandise vendors and local community organizations will participate. Additionally, several artisans will be actively working on projects and discussing their specific art.

For information, call (619) 533-7148. A complete listing of entertainment and vendors can be found on www.ccdc.com.