VCU to Host Fourth Annual Grace Street Festival

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University and the city of Richmond will showcase cultural diversity through international foods, ethnic performances, strolling musicians, movies and artwork during the fourth annual Grace Street Festival. The Grace Street Festival is being held in conjunction with VCU's Fall Festival.

The festival takes place from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, along the 900 block of W. Grace Street.  The event is sponsored by VCU's School of World Studies and supported by nearby Grace Street merchants.  The festival is free and open to the public.  West Grace Street, between Shafer and Harrison, will be closed to vehicular traffic during the festival.

The Grace Street Festival will offer culture and cuisine from locations around the world, including Russia, France, Germany, Italy, various Hispanic countries, Africa, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Brazil, China, Vietnam and Korea.

Musical guests include German Jazz artist Pia Zierhut and Italian singer Carri Naumann-Monti.  Several local rap artists will also perform.  Several bands will entertain with African jazz, Peruvian jam and American Fusion and Funk.  Ethnic dances include Ballet Folklorico of Mexico, Spanish Flamenco, Bolivian Tobas, along with swing dancing and "firespinning," a form of dance that incorporates lighted metal coils.

A special highlight of this year's Grace Street Festival is the VCU International Student Film Festival.  Films produced by students from around the world will be shown.  This year's festival will include a recap of the films shown at the 2005 festival, as well as alumni films and new student films.  Screenings take place at the Grace Street Theatre, located at 934 W. Grace St. 

For more information about the Grace Street Festival, call (804) 827-3431 or visit http://www.has.vcu.edu/wld/grace-street-festival/.