The annual Brunswick County Intercultural Festival took place on Saturday, October 12th this year at the Riverwalk Park in Bellville. This festival started in 2004 with only one culture being represented and has now turned into something so much more.
The first thing that I noticed when I arrived at the festival was all of the different fashions that people were wearing to represent their culture. A beautiful scheme of colors worn in bright and dark shades all blended to create a piece of art.
The festival grounds were covered in different tents that were run by people from countries all over the world. There were also tents for companies and businesses here in Brunswick County. Our very own Teen Scene even had a tent which was run by Mr. Decker.
Throughout this event, there was not a moment that went by where I did not hear a symphony of music playing or an elegant reading of a poem or story. Passing by the stage I saw dancers creating a story with only their bodies. Some were by themselves while others had partners to help them create a vision for the audience to enjoy.
This festival was not only appealing to the eyes but to the mind as well. Each tent had someone ready to engage with each visitor who passed by while holding a history of their country in the palm of their hands that would be expressed to everyone who would listen.
One tent that stood out to me was Poland. When I walked over to the tent the first thing I noticed was one nesting doll sitting on the table. The woman running the tent told me to open the doll which led to another and this continued until I reached a doll that was the size of a grain of rice. Each unraveling of the dolls represented another layer of history just waiting to be told.
This festival brought the community together to celebrate the different cultures of the world. There were volunteers from different schools all there to support everyone that was there. “The festival was really cool and it was great to see all of the performers. Volunteering was so fun because we got to all experience it together” Current junior Ressa Abramson states when asked about her experiences at the intercultural festival.
I have been to festivals before like the Dogwood Festival or the Azalea Festival but none of them could compete with the enlightening and impactful mark that the intercultural festival left. This experience taught me the importance of learning about every culture I can and the beauty that follows that knowledge. I feel more aware of the culture that surrounds me here in Brunswick County and I can’t wait till next year to see this festival grow.
