The 18th annual Multicultural Fair will take place on Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Ball Circle and along Campus Walk at the University of Mary Washington. The event, which will be held rain or shine, is open to the public without charge.
The Multicultural Fair, which attracts between 3,000 and 4,000 people annually, is the capstone event of UMW’s Cultural Awareness Series. Throughout the day, the fair will feature a wide variety of entertainment representing 15 cultures from around the world. Among the performers will be Canadian songwriter and musician Ebony Tay, the three-piece reggae band Alliens, the Celtic musicians Sean Grace Consort, the Ezibu Muntu African Dance Company and the Latin musical group Solazo.
Several UMW student organizations will participate in the day’s program, including the Jazz Ensemble, the Flute Ensemble, the Eagle Pipe Band and the Hand Percussion Club. In addition, the UMW Breakers, the Swing Dance Club and the Latin Dance Club will demonstrate their styles of dance. Students also will model clothing from many different cultures in a fashion show.
The Multicultural Fair will host entertainment especially for children. The children’s activity area will include acts and performances by the Dinobone Music Show, Rappahannock Area Kids on the Block and the Wong Chinese Lion Dancers. There also will be a piñata breaking by the Latino Student Association. In addition, children can learn to make diversity bracelets and masks, get their faces painted and receive Henna body art.
The fair will offer food vending and craft areas with ethnic, multicultural or international foods and products. Featured foods include traditional American festival fare, as well as Hispanic, Thai and Caribbean foods.
The Multicultural Fair is sponsored by Multicultural Student Affairs and the James Farmer Multicultural Center. For more information, call (540) 654-1044 or visit https://www.umw.edu/multicultural/multicultural_fair/default.php.