Columbia, South Carolina – This weekend, the South Carolina State Fairgrounds is hosting the 29th Columbia International Festival. This amazing event is all about showing off how people from different countries live together in our state. You can explore their food, music, dances, and a whole lot more. Ever since it started back in 1996, the festival has been a place where thousands of people come to join in and celebrate. It’s perfect for families and over 95 different cultures from all around the globe are part of it each year.
The two-day festival features include:
- International Food Court – Sample the exotic flavors of foreign cuisines from around the world (Saturday & Sunday).
- Cultural Entertainment – Cultural groups representing many countries will perform on the festival stage.
- International Fashion Show – See beautiful traditional clothing that distinguish cultures from around the globe.
- International Bazaar – Shop for authentic clothing, crafts, jewelry, and souvenirs imported from a wide variety of nations.
- Cultural Demonstrations – Learn something new – make origami, use chopsticks, write in another script, and more.
- Parade of Nations – Watch traditionally dressed representatives proudly present their home countries’ flags during the annual parade on Saturday.
An annual favorite is the international food court! While the variety changes from year to year, some yummy ones that people always look forward to are spicy curry from India, tasty empanadas from Mexico, stuffed pierogi from Poland, amazing Filipino adobo, yummy Korean mandoo dumplings, Colombian tapas full of flavor, crispy samosas made the Burmese way, thin French crêpes with sweet or savory fillings, sweet alfajores cookies from Peru, soft mandazi from Africa that taste like donuts, savory and rich Spanish paella and lots of sweet treats from Ukraine.
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If you buy your tickets early, they cost less – $7 for people who are 20 or older. Young folks aged 13 to 19 years old, pay only $4. But if you wait to get your ticket at the festival gate, adults will have to pay $10 and teens will pay $7. Kids who are 12 years old or younger can get in for free! All military personnel receive free admission with a military ID. Plus, if your kid goes to a Title 1 school and is coming to the Columbia International Festival then their parents and grown-up brothers or sisters can come along for free too.
For more information about the Columbia International Festival, visit cifonline.org.
