On April 12, the Driscoll Student Center will transform into a cornucopia of cultures for the 25th annual Festival of Nations celebration.
From noon to 5 p.m. the student-run festival will feature 28 groups and eight performances, as well as international cuisine, interactive exhibits and cultural displays.
“It’s a neat opportunity for students to come together in ways that they don’t normally,” says Glenn Summers, the international community outreach coordinator. He estimates 2,000 people will pass through the festival on Saturday.
The event also draws crowds from the surrounding neighborhoods, allowing the University a unique chance to integrate with the local community, says Eric Streeper, co-president of the International Student Organization, a small group that facilitates programming between international students and American students.
“The festival really brings people together and gets different viewpoints out there [to] promote understanding,” Streeper says.
Summers stresses the continuing importance of the festival given the expanding role that internationalization plays at DU. He says it’s a reflection of international cultures on campus.
Admission is free.
Schedule of performances:
12:30–12:45
Indian Student Network presents Indian Bollywood dancing.
12:45–1:15
Vietnamese Student Association presents a Vietnamese candle dance.
1:15–1:45
Tai Kung Ha Holistic Fitness Center presents a Lion Dance and Kung Fu/Tai Chi demonstration.
1:45–2:15
Saudi Student Club presents a traditional Saudi dance.
2:15–2:35
Khadijah belly dancer
2:35–3:15
Ballet Mestizo (Mexican Folkloric Dancing)
3:15–3:55
Sambos Caporales (Traditional Dances of Bolivia)
4:00–4:45
An international fashion show hosted by the Indian Student Network