The world is coming to the Renton Highlands in August for the first-ever Renton International Festival.

The free festival will feature vendors, entertainment, food and a beer garden, all internationally themed.

It’s planned for Aug. 13-15 at the Greater Hi-Lands Shopping Center on Sunset Boulevard Northeast in the Highlands.

“The international population has grown in Renton,” said Annie Malik, the festival coordinator and marketing director for the Seattle Chinese Times.

A key supporter of the festival, Malik said, is Duc Tran, the owner of the Tea Palace Restaurant and the Viet Wah Asian Grocery Market in the Viet Wah Plaza.

The beer garden is planned for in front of the Tea Palace, which sits behind the Viet Wah market.

Working closely on the festival with festival producer One Media Venture and the Seattle Chinese Times are the Renton Chamber of Commerce and the City of Renton.

Bill Taylor, the chamber’s president, said he has talked for years about having an international festival in Renton. Tran made it happen.

“It took someone like Mr. Tran to take a conversation and make it a reality” Taylor said.

One of the benefits, too, is that the festival will bring a lot of exposure to the Highlands shopping area, he said.

The festival is intended for everyone, Malik said, and is a good way for vendors and entertainers to introduce themselves to a large audience.

There will 60 booths for vendors, including those selling food, and nonprofit organizations.

Food spans the globe, from African to Thai to Vietnamese and Chinese and Mexican.

The entertainment also has an international flavor. A traditional Chinese lion dance will help kick off the festival on Aug. 13. The stage just off Sunset Boulevard will feature everything from Japanese Taiko to hip-hop to classic rock and salsa.

The Northwest Sinfonietta, a chamber orchestra, will perform “Peter and the Wolf on Aug. 15.

The Northwest Motiv International Showcase will have about 50 import performance cars on display.

And, the festival will even pay homage to Michael Jackson, with the Next “King of Pop” – Michael Jackson Talent Search, with auditions on Aug. 14 and the semifinal and final competitions on Aug. 15. The times both days are 1-2 p.m.

How to participate

Information about being a vendor, sponsor or vendor in the 2010 Renton International Festival and Night Market is available rentonfest.com.