KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Monday, Western Michigan University (WMU) announced the return of its three-day International Festival, which will be held in a virtual format under the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials say the yearly event, which is meant to celebrate cultural diversity, will highlight international food, fashion and entertainment. It had already been canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The new virtual event this year will be entitled “International Festival: Keeping Us Connected.”
It will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7 through Friday, April 9.
Officials add that, for more than three decades, the International Festival has highlighted cultures from around the world for the southwest Michigan community to experience in just one visit to Western’s campus. While the pandemic still prevents the traditional format of the event, celebrating the significance of global engagement is more important than ever, according to officials.
“This has been a difficult year for all of us,” associate provost of the Haenicke Institute for Global Education Dr. Paulo Zagalo-Melo said in a statement. “But one thing it has taught us is that it’s essential that we have the skills to work together with people across cultures and borders to solve complex problems.”
The International Festival will feature video submissions from international and cultural student organizations, as well as discussions and showcases of global engagement at Western.
Student groups will compete nightly for the best video submission in three categories: food, fashion and fun. Winners will be determined by a panel of judges and nightly, live community voting.
“The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Keeping Us Connected’ and focuses on three topics that are universally important to all of us – what we eat, what we wear and how we have fun,” Dr. Zagalo-Melo added.
Readers can tune in and learn more about International Festival at this link.
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