TOWAMENCIN- On Saturday, April 16th, the International Friendship Committee held its 25th annual International Festival, a community celebration of diversity and culture within the halls, gyms, cafeterias, and courtyards of North Penn High School.

This year’s International  Day Festival had more than 6,000 visitors come and go through the different activities, foods, and music. The day began with a parade of different cultures that traveled up and down the halls of North Penn, dressed in their traditional dress and playing their own cultural music for all to enjoy. From young children to adults to senior citizens, the different cultures were expressed through the clothes and dances of all those who participated.

In addition to music and parades, the event featured food from different cultures and restaurants. People had the opportunity to enjoy foods from Hungary, Japan, China, Vietnam, and India, and many other places. For a small price, people got to enjoy a lunch from different places, and have the opportunity to try new things that they might not usually get to experience.

In the auditorium, there were stands and set ups of different people who were either selling or presenting things from their cultures. Many of these people were dressed up in traditional wear, and were given the opportunity to express themselves and their cultures to other people.

“I really think that North Penn gave me a great opportunity to show my culture, and other cultures as well. It’s a great thing North Penn does,” said Dina Bielawiec, one of the vendors at the festival.

Taking a stroll outside, there was a concert and bounce house for children to play freely as their parents got to sit back and enjoy the concert with covers of songs from bands such as The Beatles to Phish.

The International Festival is a great event that brings together the different cultures and people in the community and gives them the opportunity to learn a little more about each other. This event is made to show each other the different traditions and cultures in their community so that we may be able to accept people for who they are.

Deb McLaughlin, one of the visitors, says, “hopefully now that we are all brought together as one, maybe we can all finally get along.”