International Festival to show global cultures, customs
MADISON COUNTY – On Sept. 21, residents can travel ‘around the world’ without a passport.
The tenth annual International Festival of North Alabama or iFest will be held at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. iFest 2019 will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds and in the gym of University Fitness Center, 500 John Wright Drive NW at Holmes Avenue NW.
“iFest is a one-day, family-friendly spectacular, open to the public with no admission or parking charges. iFest is the only such opportunity within a two-hour travel radius,” publicist Jim Zielinski said.
“Visit Poland, Ireland, Gambia, Peru, Australia, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia and many other distant lands. International Society of Huntsville, UAH Library and UAH Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and countless community volunteers present this popular event,” Zielinski said.
Alabama Bicentennial Committee endorses iFest.
A ribbon cutting and “Parade of Nations” at 9 a.m. will open iFest. “Latvia and Sweden are new this year. For 2019, ‘Spotlight Countries’ will be Romania and South Korea,” Zielinski said.
Free interactive, educational games and events will be available for families throughout the day at iFest.
Entertainment headliners will be Rocket City Latin Band and singer/songwriter Clair Carpenter. Returning favorites will include the Philippine-American Dancers of Alabama, Mission Dance Academy, Madison-based Fitness Arts Center with Irish Step Dancers, UAH Indian Student Organization and Dance Theatre of Huntsville. Anyaberry’s Theatre of Fashion also will appear.
Food trucks will include Cafe on Wheels – Neon Lilly for Eastern European fare, Cuban Cafe of Madison with its distinctive menu, Hildegard’s German Wurst Wagon, Cajun Cravin’ of Madison for a zingy taste of New Orleans, New South Hotdogs and Pearl Asian Cuisine.
Vendors in the International Open Air Market will display merchandise from North Alabama Korean School, Raíces y Costumbres Pañamena crafts, Atomy for Korean beauty products and Alabama Hispanic Association. Market food vendors at the market will be Taqueria Los Jarochos, Steel City Pops and Ohana Hotdogs and Lemonade.
For more information, contact Belinda Ong by calling 256-824-6432, email ongb@uah.edu or visit internationalsocietyofhuntsville.org or Facebook.
