VCU to Host 2008 Intercultural Festival

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University will celebrate the diversity and culture of its students and the surrounding community during the 2008 Intercultural Festival.

The 2008 VCU Intercultural Festival takes place Sunday, April 13, 2008, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., at the University Student Commons Plaza, 907 Floyd Ave., rain or shine.  All activities are free and open to the public.

The festival includes a variety of food vendors, cultural displays and performances, fashion shows, student-produced art exhibitions, interactive booths, lessons in ethnic dance, games, crafts, children's activities and door prizes. A parade will be held on campus on Saturday, April 12, starting at 2 p.m. It forms in the VV parking lot at the corner of Floyd Avenue and Harrison Street and will wrap around the VCU Campus.

This year's festival also includes a charity concert on Saturday, April 12, from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the University Student Commons Commonwealth Ballrooms. Culture-Sol, a hip-hop/rap cover band will perform and at 10 p.m. disc jockey Long Jawns will take over for a dance party.  Tickets are $5 with proceeds supporting "Invisible Children."  

The VCU Intercultural Festival began informally more than a decade ago to unite VCU and surrounding neighborhoods as well as to raise cultural awareness and celebrate VCU's creativity and cultural diversity. The festival was recognized as an official tradition at VCU in 2003.

Last year, more than 40 student organizations participated and more than 2,000 students attended. The festival is organized and run entirely by student volunteers.

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs within the Division for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, and the Student Government Association sponsor the VCU Intercultural Festival.  For more information about the festival and the preceding week's activities, call 804.828.4514, or visit http://www.vcuicf.org.