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A record crowd that included international and American students, faculty and staff of The Claremont Colleges, as well as members of the community, attended the 29th International Festival on Saturday, April 14, with help from an estimated 300 volunteers. While community volunteers worked on the event "infrastructure," International Place director Charlene Martin says that scores of students assisted I-Place staff by turning their efforts toward menu-planning, entertainment, shopping, food preparation (via college and community kitchens throughout the previous evening), and sign-painting.
Martin offers praise, as well, for members of the CMS football team who "showed up in full-force at 7 a.m., on the morning of the festival, to help construct 50 booths.
"We couldn't have done it without them," she said.
Guests found no shortage of activities and entertainment upon arrival. While the west end of the festival featured a beer and wine garden, the northwest section offered a clown and storytelling to amuse children. Henna face painting, origami, a sidewalk café, and bargain-priced trinkets donated by international students were among an exhaustive list of festival features.
"I think the spirit of the day is one of world community," Martin said. "All nations, cultures, and religions being together in one place, learning from each other in peace. The international students truly 'bring the world to Claremont' on this special day."
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The Tinkers, a pipe and drum band from the Los Angeles Music Center, entertained Festival guests with bagpipes and drums. Food and beverages representative of all were available throughout the day at wallet-friendly prices, as well as international dance performances and musicians, face-painting, and storytelling.
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