Staff Writers
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| Russian Matryoshka dolls and other handmade crafts. |
The 28th Annual International festival in Raleigh was
lit up in colorful exhibitions of food, bazaars, and performances, with the
theme of cultural arts, music, and crafts.
Food, something the entire
family is always interested in, was certainly in abundance all weekend. Unique
as well as tasty, from the French homemade crepes to the Greek baklava, each
stand sold a variety of cultural dishes. The small portions from the sidewalk
cafes made it easy to sample a variety of foods.
Besides food, participants were also able to shop world markets without leaving the city. Cultural merchandise like Vietnamese wooden wall decorations, Middle Eastern fabrics, Russian Matryoshka dolls, and Chinese fans could all be found in the bazaars. While handmade chess sets ranged upwards of $80, many items were sold for under $20, including African cow bone bracelets and intricate Asian hair ornaments.
The International Festival was not only filled with food and shopping; it was also very educational. Children of all ages received a “passport,” which they could get stamped with the flags of all the different countries present in the convention center. Of course, one had to earn his/her flags by answering a cultural question at each miniature country he/she visited. Apex High School student Zoe Bergmire-Sweat attended the International Festival, and described how, “It opened my eyes to the existence of other cultures and mindsets, and I realized talking to people from all over the world that we still have a lot of the same interests.”
If you missed this year’s festival, put it on your calendar for
next year. We hope to see you next October when residents of North Carolina
will, once more, congregate at the Raleigh Convention Center to celebrate the
awesome diversity of our world.
