BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University’s 40th Festival of Nations, an annual celebration of the cultural diversity of the campus community, will be held Saturday, April 18. The festival will run from 3-7 p.m. in the Beaux Arts Ballroom of the Hobson Memorial Union.

Tickets for the Festival of Nations are $3 for the public and $2 for Bemidji State University students with a valid student ID. Children under 12 are admitted free. Food and beverage tickets will be sold on site for $1 and some activities will cost between $1 and $3 to participate. Festival t-shirts and cultural merchandise will be on sale during the event and a variety of raffles and giveaways will also be available.

The Festival of Nations features more than 90 Bemidji State students from around the world sharing the global food, crafts and traditions that form the mosaic of the American culuture. The festival provides an opportunity for the Bemidji community to sample food, arts, crafts and entertainment from across the world and meet the diversity of international students who call Bemidji home while pursuing their educations.

The Festival of Nations was established at Bemidji State University in 1969 as the Feast of Nations and in 2005 was expanded into the Festival of Nations. It has been designed to bring peoples of all backgrounds together to take pride in the richness of diverse cultures in the Bemidji community with a commitment to provide a superior educational and multicultural experience.

Recipes and history of the dishes will be provided in the form of recipe cards so that visitors to the booths may take the recipe home if they are interested. There will also be a food performance from the stage as emcees and others tell about the countries food background, what the food is made for (ex: holidays) and more. Beverages of soda, water and coffee will be provided.

Exhibition and activity booths at the festival include origami, Chinese calligraphy, henna tattooing, introduction to foreign languages, information on embassies, interactive games, features on world travel and an art and exhibition room.

The festival will also include a variety of live performances, including a live band, dancing exhibitions, a fashion show and a Tae Kwon Do exhibition. Some of the dance performances may be interactive and persons in attendance are often asked to participate to enhance the opportunity to experience different cultures.

The event is presented by Bemidji State University and the International Student Organization.

For more information, please contact Ashley Ebbenga at (218) 333-7068.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
April 18 – 3-7 p.m. – 40th Annual Festival of Nations at Bemidji State University, featuring food, arts, crafts and entertainment from around the world. Location: Beaux Arts Ballroom, Hobson Memorial Union, Bemidji State University. Admission: $3, $2 for students with a valid BSU ID, children under 12 free. Information: Ashley Ebbenga, (218) 333-7068.