International Festival back to Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg is hosting its own International Festival this Saturday, Sept. 20, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The sixth annual event will take place at Hillandale Park. Those attending will experience the rich diversity of the local community. The price is perfect, too. No admission will be charged.

Hillandale Park is going to be transformed into a whirlwind of sights, sounds, smells, and tastes from around the world. The park will be divided into a large and small stage, plus an interactive area and playground. Main performances will be located on the large stage. Music from the Andes will be performed by The Mystic Warriors; Virginia Roots will be playing; and the Charlottesville Community

African Drummers will also take the stage. A major highlight of the festival is Kurdish dancing, which takes place around the large stage from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Audience members join hands and learn the dance together.

A variety of interactive activities will take place on the small stage. Experience the thrill of learning a folk dance, learning to play drums from around the world, and attempting to master the art of juggling. Folk storytellers of Native American, Appalachian, and African background will also lend their talents.

Attendees can enjoy making works of art from around the globe in a craft area for all ages. Visitors have the opportunity to construct folk art, construct Kofi paper hats originating from Ghana, make Japanese fish prints, craft Mexican paper flowers, create origami, and make friendship flag bracelets. There will also be a face painting booth. Other activities throughout the day include breaking piñatas, making African peanut butter, and ethnic playground games for children and the young at heart.

The highlight of the festival is the international cuisine. Tastes from all corners of the globe can be sampled and savored. Restaurants represented will be Taste of Thai, Saigon Café, Blue Nile Cuisine for Ethiopian food lovers, El Coquia, (Puerto Rican), Macondos Caribbean Cuisine, Moores Mexican Bakery and Guzman Mexican Restaurant. All these ethnic food vendors have a variety of choices from appetizers to desserts to full meals. Most full meals will cost around five dollars.

Vaunda Brown, chairperson of the event for the last 3 years, is extremely excited about the festival. "We are celebrating the fact that we are an international community," she said. "Our goals are the three E's: Entertain, Educate, and Eat. Our community is changing in a fast way; we need to educate ourselves and share what we have and who we are, and learn about our neighbors."

Many EMU students will be volunteering at the event along with other area students. Deanna Durham, our Community Life Center coordinator, commented about the importance of students getting involved in the Harrisonburg community. "It's a way for students to learn who lives here and how to give back," said Durham.

Volunteers from EMU will be participating in a peace patrol and playground patrol. Others will be directing traffic and working at the welcome center. Intensive English Program students will be leading ethnic playground games. "It's really going to be a fun and amazing day," said Durham.

The International Festival promises to be a worthwhile event. In years past it has attracted a huge crowd numbering 8,000-10,000 people. "We invite the community to come out and feel like they belong to something much bigger," said Brown.