GET READY – The Buckeye Local High School Foreign Language Club is gearing up for the 17th Annual Culture Fair which will take place Thursday from 5-8 p.m. Food, music, exhibits and theatrical performances from around the world will be part of the festivities with 31 countries recognized at the event. With their display are, left to right, Elizabeth Bolock, Elionnah Hill, Emily McDiffitt, Brooklyn Lengyel, Elizabeth Stock and Maggie Sabo. Hester Lambright and Kirsten Faulkner are other club members involved. — Contributed
CONNORVILLE — Heritage will be on display Thursday as the Buckeye Local High School Foreign Language Club hosts its 17th annual International Cultural Fair.
Tasting and displays of popular dishes will return, but artwork will take center stage under the theme “Repainting the Past: The History of World Art.” Thirty-one countries from the Americas across Europe and beyond will be represented in the school commons from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Live music and theatrical performances are also scheduled, and organizers will pay tribute to the late Rick Pastre, an accordionist who supported events. for many years.
Admission is free, but tickets will sell for 25 cents each to sample tasty delights from around the world.
Organized by club members, the fair is open to the public for the first time since COVID-19 affected plans. Last year, the group filmed their presentations and uploaded them to the school’s YouTube channel for people to see.
Co-Chair Brooklyn Lengyel, who shares the duties with Hester Lambright, said this year’s festivities are relatively back to normal but will still follow health protocols.
“We are having an art exhibition this year, which we have never done before,” Lengyel explained. “My co-president had suggested an architectural theme, and we thought about art and architecture. Everyone hung on to the art (look), so we went with that.
“It will be a museum” added Elizabeth Stock, club secretary.
The teams have researched popular artists and styles from their selected country and will display them in an art gallery format, plus they will offer samples of their country’s foods and culture details. Countries affected will include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, UK, Spain, France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Russia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan and Australia .
In addition, there will be activities for children with a “stamped passport” to visit each location and a 50-50 drawing. The first part of the event will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the commons while the second part will take place in the theater from 7 p.m. “lose” and “El Mismo Sol”, a Hebrew song from the high school choir and a violin solo on the program.
Club members will hold a Parade of Nations and announce the prizes, 50-50 winner and entrants.
Teacher Bonnie Soos, who co-advises the group with fellow educator Savana Granat, said the fair usually represents 25 to 30 countries, but it was the largest yet with 31 sites on display. She cited the fact that more freshmen have become involved over the past three years in their projects.
“I’m very excited (about the open event),” said Lengyel. “There were a lot of challenges but it’s great.”
“It’s a great way for the community to come together,” added co-vice president Emily McDiffitt, who holds the title with Kirsten Faulkner.
“I love different cultures” added Maggie Sabo, who is co-treasurer with Elionnah Hill.
