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The International Festival will feature entertainment representing the countries and cultures of the greater Greer community.
How do you fit the world into City Park? The third annual Greer Goes Global International Festival on April 9 is expanding with room to spare. The festival is 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
“We had to change up our whole map,” said Ashlyn Stone, events supervisor at the City of Greer. “This year we are using our picnic area because of some additional events.”
Free is the currency for the event that will feature more than 20 countries, entertainment, crafts and sports exhibitions from around the world and inflatables.
New this year is an international market offering ethnic food with food trucks and vendors offering traditional festival fare, too. “We’re really excited with the international market,” Stone said. “We already have ten vendors, which is more than we expected the first year.”
Germany, Ireland and Nicaragua are among the new additions to the festival. “Go figure how we haven’t had Germany in the past,” said Stone. “Word of mouth is getting us more countries like Ireland and Nicaragua.”
The Department of Natural Resources is bringing its Hispanic outreach fishing simulator, eyebrow threading that originated in India, will be demonstrated and offered.
Entertainment will be offered throughout the day at the amphitheater.
Children and students will also benefit from the festival. Teachers take the opportunity to educate students on the countries and cultures. A map will be given to each child entering the festival and a star will mark the country visited.
“I love it because it’s educational and a celebration of our community,” said Stone. “A lot of people, sometimes neighbors, don’t know each other until they run into them at the festival.”
The largesse of the festival has Stone wondering when the pond and Cannon Centre will become part of the International Festival venue. “The pond could actually represent crossing the ocean to England and Europe,” said Stone.
Follow Greer Goes Global for complete information.