The 25th International Festival: Worldwide culture at your fingertips in Raleigh this weekend (10/1-10/3)
Care to experience other cultures from around the globe without the hassle and the expense of the travel? Head to the Raleigh Convention Center this weekend from Fri. 10/1 through Sun. 10/3, and you can do just that.
Following a momentous Naturalization Ceremony on Friday from 2:30-4:30pm, the multicultural celebration revs up with vibrant, authentic dance performances representing more than 30 cultures on the main stage, international music on the Biergarten stage, and cooking, craft, and dance demonstrations throughout the evening and into the weekend.
On any one of the three days, upon entry into the festival, you’ll find sidewalk cafes serving international fare ranging from Ethiopian, to Hungarian, to Iranian, to Nepalese. In between sampling the ethnic cuisines, you can stroll past the cultural booths and shop the world bazaars of Egypt, India, Kenya, and Tibet to name a few. Attend the Bollywood and Korean Fan dancing demonstrations, or learn the art of Colombian Werregue basket weaving or the intricate process of Pysanky (Ukrainian Egg Painting) -- a Ukrainian folk art tradition over 2000 years old.
Numerous cultural exhibits and interactive children’s activities are in place to educate and entertain all ages, while live musical performances of various styles -- steel drums, Brazilian Bossa Nova, traditional Celtic, and high energy Latin Rock among others – amount to an enlightening, international experience under one roof.
Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. The prices are as follows: Adults: $7, Seniors (65 and up): $6, Kids 7-12: $6, Kids 6 and under free. Tickets purchased in advance are discounted by $1 off. For a complete schedule for the International Festival, to purchase tickets, and for directions to the Raleigh Convention Center, click here.
Posted by Angela Risko
