Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 6 at 5 pm because Northwestern is hosting its biggest celebration of culture in the RSC 4-Courts: the Beloved Festival of Culture!
The vibrant celebration, hosted by the Bridge Center for Intercultural Development with the leadership of I-Club and the support of La Mosaic and Bridge Scholars, aims to foster a sense of inclusivity and appreciation for the different cultures on campus and in the community.
The event is open to all students and to the public. NWC students can get in with a meal swipe, while individuals ages 12 and up can buy tickets for $13. Children ages four-11 get a discounted entrance fee of $8, and those under three get in free. If you choose to only enjoy the performances, admission is just $1.
Here’s a closer look at what the tickets include and what you can expect from this event: Cuisine from Around The World
A variety of meals from around the world will be served at the first hour of the event. Indulge your taste buds with food from Japan, Taiwan, South Africa, Haiti, Germany, The Netherlands, Kenya, The Philippines, Nepal, South Korea, Venezuela, Italy, Brazil and Thailand—all available from 5 pm until 6 pm.
Aside from an opportunity to taste global food, tickets include free access to several fun activities offering little prizes. These include a game of soccer, a Henna tattoo station, a chance to take photos in a photo booth station with an assortment of hats and props, and “Plane Through The World,” a unique game where you fly paper airplanes through different-sized circular holes to win prizes.
As a bonus, all paid ticket holders will be entered into a free raffle for a gift. Raffle entry for students who entered with a meal swipe is $1.
In addition to the free activities, there will be a small gift shop if you’d like to buy crochet keychains as a souvenir of this fun cultural celebration.
The Bridge Center is very thrilled to feature 12 performances from different groups. The festival kicks off with a fashion show, where participants (students, staff, faculty, and community members) will showcase outfits representing their culture, such as traditional attire and national jerseys. Moreover, attendees will be able to enjoy various song and dance performances. This includes excellent performances from NW’s three NCDC finalists: Just Jazz Combo, Second Rate Sound, and Divercity), a collaborative K-Pop dance number from some NW and Dordt University students and a fantastic Dutch dance performance by several talented members of the community. Furthermore, attendees will also be treated to some exceptional performances by NW’s very own multi-talented student, Shion Lee.
There are numerous fun things to do at the Beloved Festival of Culture. Indeed, it is not just an event—it’s a celebration of the diversity of God’s beautiful creation.
With that in mind, save the date, spread the word, and get excited to join this wonderful cultural celebration!
Previous participants in the Beloved Festival of Culture
