The crowd in Arvada’s Olde Town Square was largely wearing t-shirts, tank tops and shorts Saturday morning as temperatures neared 70 degrees.

Perfect weather for an event called Winterfest.

The annual multicultural winter celebration returned to downtown Arvada Saturday, bringing along with it a host of musical performances, dances and global food and craft vendors.

Dozens of vendors offering food from all over the world, including Greece, Mexico and the Middle East, lined the streets, their tents shielding them from the oddly strong February sun.

Begun in 2018, the annual festival has given town residents and anyone else in attendance the chance to learn more about and enjoy various culture and entertainment from around the world. The event moved to Olde Town last year and also featured ice sculpting on Saturday, despite the less-than-ideal temperature for the craft.

Several performances captivated audiences Saturday, including an Irish step dancing routine and a mariachi band. But none seemed to draw a larger crowd than the Kamala Polynesian Dancers around 1 p.m.

As many in the audience watched two women and one man danced to a variety of Polynesian styles on the temporary stage set up in a parking lot off Grandview Avenue, children and adults alike danced along, trying to mimic the movements of the performers on stage.

After the show ended, some in the audience took away from the performance a greater appreciation for other cultures.

“It’s so important for people to be exposed to ideas and traditions outside of their own,” said Michael Rogers, who watched the performance with his family. “Especially right now, shows like this help bring all of us closer together.”