The 7th Annual International Festival to Highlight Golden Isles’ Diverse Cultures

The diverse cultures of the Golden Isles will be on full display at the 7th Annual International Festival.

The event will take place on April 6, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Southeast Georgia Conference Center on the College of Coastal Georgia campus. Hosted by the Robert S. Abbott Race Unity Institute and the College of Coastal Georgia, the festival will feature international food, music, a marketplace, and much more.

“The College of Coastal Georgia is honored to once again host the International Festival,” said Interim President Meg Amstutz. “We hope to welcome many members of the community onto campus to explore and celebrate the diverse cultures that will be represented at the festival.”

The International Festival began in 2011 as a partnership between the College and the Abbott Institute to foster a greater understanding among residents of Brunswick and the Golden Isles and expand the horizons of the region’s youth.

“This collaboration brings the community together to highlight and appreciate different cultures in an environment of fun,” Diane Knight, Robert S. Abbott Race Unity Institute, Inc. festival coordinator said. She believes the event aligns well with the mission of the Abbott Institute. “We [The Abbott Institute] exist to facilitate communication across race, culture, and age.”

The festival is open to the community and can be enjoyed by all ages. Children can participate in fun, educational activities in their own special area called “KidFest,” facilitated by the Association of Coastal Educators.

“A lot of kids never leave Brunswick and the festival is a great way to bring the world to them. They can learn about different cultures and know there are other kinds of people in the world. It can really change their lives,” Knight said.

Inside the conference center will be the CultureExpo, where people from different countries will share their heritage through presentations, demonstrations, and artifacts.

Outside, attendees can browse through the Artisan Marketplace and shop for books, pottery, jewelry, Gullah-Geechee prints, Honduran handcrafts, sweet grass baskets, paintings, handmade African instruments, and much more.

The Global Food Bazaar is set to please many palates with cuisines representing Jamaica, Italy, the Philippines, Greece, and other nations.

One of the main focal points of the festival will be the live entertainment.

“There will be a lot of engagement happening underneath the performance tent between the entertainers and audience,” Brittany Garcia, College of Coastal Georgia coordinator of Student Engagement and Intercultural Programs, said.

As people walk around the festival they can watch the Lanakilas Polynesian Show bring the South Pacific to Brunswick through dance, costumes, and storytelling; enjoy Tae Kwon Do demonstrations; listen to the Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters; and dance to Latin beats with Tropicante.

The International Festival is continuing to grow each year. In 2017, approximately 500 people attended the festival, Garcia said, and this year organizers are expecting a bigger crowd.

“This event is a way to build bridges,” Knight said “and a way of breaking down barriers.”

The International Festival is free to attend. Tickets must be purchased to buy food and cost $1 each. Food items will sell for one to three tickets each depending on the vendor. Food vendors cannot accept cash. College of Coastal Georgia students will be given five free tickets and can bring cash to purchase more tickets.

For more information, visit https://www.ccga.edu/page.cfm?p=2395 or call 912.634.1367.