Charleston Community Invited to CofC World Cultures Fair

The Charleston community is invited to come to the College of Charleston Cistern Yard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2019, for the 11th annual World Cultures Fair, hosted by the College of Charleston School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs (LCWA). The rain location is TD Arena, McAlister Hospitality Suite.

With 100 high school students from the Charleston County School District planning to attend the fair, the College is expecting hundreds of attendees to come out for this cultural trip around the world, and everyone is invited to wear festive or traditional dress to represent different cultures, not necessarily one’s own.

Now in its 11th year, the event will showcase international cultures with over 30 tables displaying crafts, foods and information about student clubs and international programs at the College. Nearly every culture and language taught at CofC will be represented.

The Chinese lion dance is a favorite event at the yearly World Cultures Fair.

Student, faculty and community performances include Japanese drumming, Chinese lion dancing, Latin American music, ballroom dancing, capoeira, face painting and more.

Refreshments are geographically themed, with each hour dedicated to a different cuisine. This year will highlight food from the African continent at 11 a.m., Eurasia at 12 p.m. and the American continent (with a focus on Latin America) at 1 p.m.

The fair’s aim is to bring various cultures and traditions from around the world to the Charleston community and to educate the community about the LCWA, which prepares students to become knowledgeable, engaged citizens in an increasingly complex and interdependent world. Home to one of the most comprehensive language programs in the Southeast, as well as in-depth programs in international and cultural studies, the school presents courses that are global, multicultural, interdisciplinary and comparative. Study-abroad programs in many countries around the world enhance the school’s academic offerings.

Sponsors for the World Cultures Fair include the LCWA; Division of Student Affairs; Office of Sustainability; Aramark; Center for International Education; Office of Institutional Diversity; Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services; Hispanic studies; French, Francophone, and Italian studies; Classics; German and Slavic studies; African studies; Asian studies; Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture; Latin American and Caribbean studies; African American studies; international studies; Jewish studies; Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art; and College of Charleston Bookstore.

For more information on the World Cultures Fair, please contact Mary Ann Blitt, instructor of Hispanic studies, at 843.953.0248.