BY Melanie S. Mosshart
For the Kent Reporter
If you like fun, food and entertainment then the Kent International Festival is the place to be in June.
Captivating, colorful, creative talent abounds in the annual celebration of cultural diversity on June 22 at the Town Square Plaza.
In its fifth year, the Kent International festival hosts entertainment, nine food stands boasting exotic cuisine from Greek to Thai and various booths of cultural, education and information lending themselves to the festival theme of Learn from Each Other.
People of all ages are invited to the World Dance Party, which will kick off the event on Friday evening, June 21 from 6:30-9 at the Kent Senior Center. The party is a free opportunity to watch four unique dances from around the world and then participate as the dancers teach you the fun steps.
The “Generations Walking Together” parade will launch the festival
at 9:30 Saturday morning, leading folks from all ages and ethnicities for four blocks from Kent’s City Hall to the Town Square Plaza where the festivities will begin. The diverse lineup of activities will begin at 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day, spotlighting dance troupes, choirs, bands, fashion shows and vocalists. Cultural booths throughout the plaza will offer fun arts and crafts projects for children to participate in as well as providing a stamp for their passports.
The festival continues its focus on Kent-area students as many of the entertainers, cultural booth workers and volunteers are local youth. Teams of high school students will participate for cash prizes for their clubs in the Hand Held Float Building contest and share their productions at the end of the day. Various students from the area have made submissions to the Festival Art Contest and those winners be awarded a metal. The public attending will help determine the winners of the Float Building and the People Choice for Art contests.
If you would like to participate, volunteer or need more information, please visit www.kentinternationalfestival.com.
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