For 28 years, people in the Starkville and Mississippi State University communities have had an opportunity to show off their own cultures and explore those of others.
The 28th annual International Fiesta is scheduled for Saturday, with people from across the globe planning to share their cultures through food, performance and crafts. The fiesta will be held on the Drill Field on the MSU campus and will begin with the flag parade at 11 a.m. followed by welcomes from MSU President Mark Keenum and Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill. The event ends at 3 p.m. International flags will also fly on Main Street in the week leading up to the event.
The International Fiesta is presented by the MSU Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and the Starkville World Neighbors Association.
“Town and gown is what we’re trying to do here,” said Joan Mylroie of the World Neighbors Association. “In this world, it’s good to know each other, because everybody loves their families, wants to be good, you know. We all have the same emotions, and we’re just learning that we’re all the same when we get down to the basics. It’s just a good day for that.”
Mylroie said the festival had grown exponentially since she first became involved 20 years ago while a geography professor at MSU.
“It started out as kind of a small group, and it just didn’t have as much participation with student groups and not as much participation with town folks,” Mylroie said. “Probably, at the beginning we had 10 different groups that were having displays and now its 50. It’s just grown, grown, grown.”
In addition to the 50 booths, musical and dance groups will perform, and inflatables and other activities will be available for children. Booths will also be judged on best entrée, best dessert and best display.
Admission is free, with food available for sale.
For more information on the International Fiesta, call 662-325-2033.
Currently, 765 international students from 76 countries study at MSU.