International Festival celebrates unity in diversity

Check it out

What: International Festival, featuring music, dance, food, craft vendors and children’s activities

When: Noon-6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Veterans’ Memorial Center, 203 E. 14th St.; a bicycle parade begins at 11:30 a.m. at I-House, 10 College Park, and ends at the Vets’ Center

Admission: Free

Info: 530-753-5007 or dir@internationalhousedavis.org

International House, Davis, presents its second annual International Festival from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Veterans’ Memorial Center, 203 E. 14th St. in Davis.

The free event will offer music, food, dance, a children’s village and many vendors, while also stressing education at this celebration of “unity in diversity.”

I-House President Mary Philip and Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza will open the festival at noon. Stage manager Sandy Holman of the Culture Co-op will introduce special guest D.J. Michael Gagley, who will show a “unity in diversity” montage. Then, a list of performers ranging from Galena Street East Productions to the Pamela Trokanski Dance Theater will take the stage.

At 1:45 p.m. the international fashion show, hosted by Natalie Dzokerayi, will fill the main stage in the multipurpose room. Also, watch for a tai chi demonstration by Janna Graves of UC Davis. The live entertainment will conclude with a performance by Calvin Handy and the Jazz Patrol and a variety of special guests.

Food vendors include Delta of Venus serving wholesome and hearty Caribbean food for vegans, vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. G-Dubbs BBQ will serve pork ribs, hot links, tri-tip and baked beans. Thai Recipes features curries and more, and Preethi Indian Food specializes in South Indian food. Philip also will sell vegan Indian food.

I-House docents and members of the Wednesday morning coffee klatch are making cookies, bars and baked goods galore for the giant bake sale in the MPR kitchen.

“Visitors will be kept busy going from food vendors to arts and crafts vendors and enjoying the live music and performers in both the multipurpose room and children’s events in the theater,” said Elisabeth Sherwin, I-House executive director. “This is a celebration of diversity — and Davis has plenty.”

A series of presentations begins at about 12:15 p.m. in the Club Room at the Vets’ Center:

* “A Traves de Mis Ojos: Visual Art of Children Growing Up in a Farm Working Community” is an exhibit of artwork in response to closure of key services to ag workers.

* Slam Poets! Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS) features Ronee La Rae, Terri Grace, Andre Tillman, Jenny Vargas and Julien Clark.

* Selected UC Davis Humphrey Fellows will give short talks about their homeland, their work, and their hopes for a year of study at UC Davis. Speakers are from Pakistan (Tahawar Hussain), Kenya (Roselyn Onyuro) and Oman (Nasr Alshamsi).

*Faces of Cuba with Rick Moniz: He will look at the diverse character of Cuban culture and its Afro-Cuban-European roots.

* Global Musical Instruments: A panel will discuss musical instruments not found in the mainstream.

* Chilean artist Erna Martinez will show how she creates recycled art from thrown-away objects. This is an interactive workshop where participants will learn how to make a recycled key chain, among other objects.

* Coach Rick Powers on “Competitive Swimming Around the World: Personal Experiences.”