The Multicultural Festival has been annual tradition at school for nine years, is a much-anticipated event that brings students together to celebrate diverse cultures through food, presentations, and performances. This year, students took on the challenge of researching different countries, preparing traditional dishes, and sharing their findings with their peers.
William Lopez (10), a student participant, shared his experience:
“It’s a project and it’s 200 points—100 points for completing a trifold and providing information about a country that a group chooses, and the other 100 points is bringing food in this Friday morning.”
For his contribution, Lopez (10) brought flan, a popular Mexican dessert.
“It’s a type of cake, but not really,” Lopez (10) said. While the dish did not hold personal cultural significance for him, he appreciated its relevance to Mexico. People can try different types of food and appreciate the culture.”
Over the years, the festival has remained largely the same, but this year saw the introduction of a fashion show, which Lopez (10) acknowledged as a welcome addition.
Another student, Stephanie Asieduahs (10), also participated in the festival by preparing Jollof Rice from Ghana.
“I just chose it ’cause, like, everybody likes Jollof, you know?”Asieduahs (10) said.
Stephanie described the dish as “smoky,” with a flavor that might surprise those unfamiliar with its preparation. Though she had always eaten Jollof Rice, making it for the festival gave her a new opportunity to share it with others.
In discussing the event’s impact, Stephanie emphasized how it fosters awareness:
“It brings people together with different types of food, the dances, the traditional wear that we’re gonna do.” Asieduahs (10) said.
To encourage participation, she took to social media:
“I’ve been telling my friends about it, asking them to come. Most of them didn’t know about it, even though it’s been announced. But I’ve just been telling them, and some of them said they were coming.”
The festival is free for students, making it an accessible way for everyone to experience different cultures firsthand. Both Lopez (10) and Asieduahs (10) agreed that events like this help students gain a broader appreciation of the world. While organizing the festival presents some challenges, such as preparing food and setting up displays, the outcome is well worth the effort.
For students like Asieduahs (10), this was their first time participating, but she expressed interest in attending future festivals:
“I would like to participate, but I wouldn’t do the club again because I did it two times. I would like to do something else, but I would like to be in the festival.” Asieduahs (10) said.
The Multicultural Festival continues to serve as an enriching experience that highlights the importance of cultural exchange, food, and shared traditions.
