April 4, 2014

Dance and music mark 19th annual Intercultural Festival

University tradition highlights diversity with displays, food and entertainment

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By Jordan Hairr

Virginia Commonwealth University will celebrate the diversity and culture of its students and the surrounding communities at the 2014 Intercultural Festival at VCU. This year’s festival theme is “Dancing through Cultures.”

The 2014 Intercultural Festival at VCU takes place Saturday, April 5, rain or shine, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. in Monroe Park. All activities are free and open to the public.

ICF has been organized by students and members of the community for nearly two decades. In 2003, the event was recognized by the Student Government Association as an official VCU tradition. Since then, ICF has become a widely celebrated spring festival that celebrates unity through diversity. Approximately 3,000-4,000 people have attend the festival annually since 2009.

Two stages will host a variety of dance and musical performances throughout the afternoon. Events include bull riding, a bungee run, an obstacle course and family-friendly events such as caricatures, face painting and a petting zoo. Food will be available from Richmond vendors such as Elephant Thai, India K’Raja and Sticky Rice togogo.

“As a VCU official tradition, the Intercultural Festival strives to showcase the diversity that VCU actively fosters on campus,” said Faith Wilkerson, interim director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and one of three advisers to ICF.

By continuing this tradition of cultural celebration through avenues such as dance and food, Wilkerson hopes that this year’s ICF will continue to strengthen the bond  between VCU and the surrounding community.

The VCU Intercultural Festival is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs within the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services and the Student Government Association. For more information, call (804) 828-6672, or visit http://www.icfvcu.com/

 

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