UNC Charlotte will host its 38th annual International Festival on Saturday, September 28 at the Barnhardt Student Activity Center. The festival was first held in the fall of 1975 as the inaugural event for the University’s newly created Center for International Studies to celebrate the ethnic diversity represented at the school and in the larger Charlotte community. Some 15 countries were represented and the event was attended by a few hundred.
With the continued growth of the University’s international student/faculty community and paralleled growth of Charlotte’s ethnic communities, the International Festival has evolved to include over 50 different countries and cultures presenting cultural displays, tasty ethnic foods, and dance performances from around the world.
Added features over the years have included the passport project, the gigantic earth balloon, puppet shows, and more. The festival offers plenty of entertainment for kids too such as mimes and face painting. There will also be an international games zone for all ages to participate in and learn about the cultural significance of various games. Participants can learn the rules of bocce, play a game of life-sized chess, or join in a soccer match.
“Festival attendance has grown each year and was estimated at over 20,000 in 2012. We expect to have just as many this year,” says Maureen Gibson, coordinator of International Initiatives in the Office of International Programs at UNC Charlotte.
“New cultural organizations register to participate and new performers join the lineup each year. It’s always exciting to see the countries and cultures represented at the festival through music, song, dance, and food – or simply by having a conversation with those at the country booths” Gibson adds.
The International Festival at UNC Charlotte is made possible through several campus-wide partnerships as well as with funding from the Arts & Science Council.
The event is open to the public, and admission is free. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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