Cultural Fair Entertains All At Civic Center
Students and the general public crowded the Civic Center March 26 for the annual Vance-Granville Community College Cultural Fair.
This year’s fair featured booths or representation from about 15 countries, including Afghanistan, China, Costa Rica, Haiti, Ireland, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, the Phillipines, Sierra Leone, Trinidad, Ukraine and Vietnam.
Natives of these lands, or students, manned the displays and shared information on the different nations and cultures.
There was varied and well-received entertainment, including patriotic songs by 3-, 4- and 5-year- olds from the VGCC Day Care Center; Mexican songs by Los Hermanos Gomez with guitars; several songs from the Dabney Elementary School Choir, ‘Royalty’; a line dance demonstration led by Lori Forsythe of Student Services, and the Drama class of instructor Betsy Henderson cracked viewers up with a farcical skit.
Michael Abramowitz, a College Transfer student, kept the program flowing as master of ceremonies.
Scott Garrison’s art class had their creations displayed in the Civic Center lobby, and Cosmetology students were on hand demonstrating hair braiding. The Criminal Justice Club and the Alumni Association also had tables to share information.
Local vendors and artists were on hand to sell their wares. They included Brenda Taylor Rice, Creations by Copper Rain and Maria Bailey, Creative Memories by Viola Brooks, ‘Just Bag It’ by Shelia Robertson, Karen Ochola with the International Palace, Eddie Davis paintings, Three Ladies East, Pleasing Products, Bath & Bodyworks, and Mandingo.
One of the highlights of the day for so many visitors and students was sampling food representative of countries around the world. The Criminal Justice Club was sharing (although it did not appear to be the most popular food) pickled pigs’ feet with daring eaters.
A Cultural Enhancement Committee of VGCC faculty and staff plans and stages the annual Cultural Fair, “to tear down walls and build bridges so that we may understand and appreciate people who are different,” said Helen Lindsey committee member.
