Cultural differences, similarities celebrated at International Fiesta

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

MSU's 25th annual International Festival takes place March 28. The traditional spring campus event, which last year (above) featured representatives of more than 20 nations, includes a parade of national flags, arts and crafts exhibits, costume displays, a wide range of indigenous food booths, and music and dance performances.
MSU's 25th annual International Festival takes place March 28. The traditional spring campus event, which last year (above) featured representatives of more than 20 nations, includes a parade of national flags, arts and crafts exhibits, costume displays, a wide range of indigenous food booths, and music and dance performances.
Photo by: Beth Wynn

STARKVILLE, Miss.--More than 21 nations will be represented March 28 at Mississippi State's 25th annual International Fiesta.

Sponsored by the Starkville World Neighbors Association, the free cultural extravaganza takes place 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the university's historic Drill Field. MSU's Richard Holmes Cultural Diversity Center is the event's organizer.

Center director Cedric Gathings said the spring event continually has grown in popularity over its quarter-century existence because all involved appreciate how it successfully "promotes inclusiveness amongst all cultures" that are part of MSU and surrounding communities.

In addition to the Holmes Center, other sponsors include MSU's Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President and Maroon Volunteer Center, as well as local State Farm Insurance representative Frank Chiles, Volunteer Starkville, Starkville Chapter of Kiwanis International, Greater Columbus Civitan Club, and Columbus Air Force Base.

Highlights include a parade of national flags, arts and crafts exhibits, costume displays, authentic music and dance, an international fashion show and instrumental performances.

International student organizations also will have a variety of culinary items for sale.

For children, an inflatable bounce house, balloon animals, piñatas, face-painting, origami lessons, relay races and other games and activities will be available.

Additionally, winners of the fiesta's essay contest will be announced. International students were challenged to share, in 1,000 words or less, how they handle expectations arising from their respective nationalities.

For additional fiesta information, contact Ra'Sheda Forbes, Holmes Center associate director, at 662-325-2033 or rboddie-forbes@saffairs.msstate.edu.

Learn more about the center at www.hcdc.msstate.edu.

MSU, the state's flagship research institution, is available online at www.msstate.edu, meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate, pinterest.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate, using hashtag #WeRingTrue.