The rhythmic beat of drums, pans and other steel instruments echoed across the lawn while families and community members gathered together to celebrate African and Caribbean culture.

The 30th Cambridge Carnival International was a two-day celebration on Sept. 7 and 8 in Central Square, featuring a lively parade and a festival filled with a variety of ethnic foods, crafts, jewelry and clothing.

Cambridge Carnival International can be traced back to a small group of Brazilian and Caribbean community members who ran nonprofits or owned businesses in Cambridge, said Nicola Williams, President of Cambridge Carnival International.

While the festival is still rooted in African traditions, Williams said it has transformed and expanded since its inception.

It began as a small street fair in University Park Commons before expanding to include Central Square, and then to Kendall Square about 15 years ago, Williams said. Post-COVID, the festival returned to its roots in University Park due to space constraints on Massachusetts Avenue. The move allowed the celebration to welcome more attendees each year and, in turn, it became one of the largest, most diverse festivals in Cambridge.

The “Pan in the Park” showcase on Saturday interspersed the folk tradition of pan music with a lesson on the history of steel pan instruments and performances by local steel musicians.

Williams explained that carnivals in Trinidad and Tobago traditionally have a panorama, a steel pan festival competition, the day before the carnival festival.

“The timing of our Pan in the Park is actually a makeup date, but it works for us because it’s the day before the carnival, and kind of in line with the tradition of Trinidad-style carnival,” Williams said.

Marietta Sbraccia, a first-time attendee to the festival, said she appreciated the rhythmic steel instruments being played.

“I love anything that brings community together, and there’s nothing like good steel band music,” she said. “I think it’s good for the future generations to know the history of where steel bands develop from, and so that history is part of our lives and our future.”

Besides its steel pan musicians, Pan in the Park featured tables with ethnic foods and crafts available for attendees to browse.

At the event, Khady Addison sold a variety of vibrant, handmade products from Africa through her business, Khady Hair & Wear. Her collection featured her own handcrafted bags and pots created by her brothers in Senegal. Addison said she has wanted to be a part of community- and diversity-oriented events like the Carnival.

“This is a way for me to showcase the culture of my country,” she said. “I like to be part of events where I can interact with the community, I can showcase my culture and also take the opportunity to learn about other cultures.”

For many attendees, Cambridge Carnival International is more than just a celebration: It is a preservation of Caribbean history in Cambridge and an invitation for those who have been displaced to reconnect with their roots.

“Many people who grew up at Carnival can’t afford to live in Cambridge anymore, so they see this event as a homecoming,” Williams said. “For those who don’t live here, they come back and they celebrate what they grew up with.”

Even as they grow and evolve, both the parade and the festival thrive on the dedication of the small but faithful committee of volunteers.

“Because it’s planned and organized by the community members, that’s really special, and it makes the event authentic,” Williams said. “People do this from their heart, and they’re very passionate about it. Our volunteers come back every year. We’re small and mighty, but we do make a huge impact on the city of Cambridge.”