Performers present a traditional dance from their culture.
UNC Charlotte hosted its 46th International Festival on Sept. 21, 2024, representing over 35 nations and their cultures.
The International Festival was held inside the Barnhardt Student Activity Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It provided both students and visitors alike with the opportunity to stroll through an array of booths representing countries such as Brazil, Kuwait, Turkey, Palestine, Poland, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt and Japan.
Attendees had the opportunity to try South Korean dumplings, taste Syrian coffee, purchase Ecuadorian jewelry and get traditional henna tattoos while browsing tables embellished with traditional cultural art pieces and clothing, as well as fictional stories and guides from each country. Some booths, such as the ones representing Bulgaria and Brazil, gave participants the opportunity to learn a couple of words in the country’s native language and their English translations.
Flags of international students that attend UNC Charlotte.
Justin Bouajram, a third-year communications major representing the Syrian and Lebanese stands with The American Druze Society, has been attending the International Festival since before he was a student at UNC Charlotte.
“Even though I was born and raised here, the significance of my culture is something I can always lean back on,” said Bouajram. “It is something I’ve always been very proud of and open to talk about. I visited some family overseas this summer and had a lot of experiences to bring back here.”
Live entertainment and music exhibitions were also scattered throughout the day, taking place both indoors and outdoors. Entertainment included performances by The Loch Norman (Scotland) Pipe Band, Steel Vibrations (Caribbean Steel Drums) and The Birdmen (Dutch Puppets).
Guests could also receive passports upon entering SAC as part of the Passport Project, where they could collect stamps from each booth they visited. Other activities at the festival included The Festival of Music and Dance, the Parade of Nations and the renowned Chinese Dragon Dance, performed by UNC Charlotte Chinese language students. Throughout the day, assorted games originating from different nations were open to participants on the Star Quad.
With over 20,000 people in attendance each year, UNC Charlotte’s International Festival is partnered with the Charlotte International Festival and aims to commemorate both the University’s international student population and the global communities within the Charlotte area.
The festival returned to UNC Charlotte’s campus in 2023 after a three-year hiatus, attracting over 13,000 students, faculty and other community members. This year’s number of attendees was largely the same, with over 228 volunteers helping make the event possible.
“[The International Festival] brings a sense of education; it’s inviting because it’s open to the public. We get to celebrate something we don’t always get the chance to talk about,” said Bouajram. “It’s something people experience. I really wish there were more students this year; it is all slowly coming back into fruition, but I think year after year it is going to progress and become something that people really begin to talk about again.”
More information on the UNC Charlotte International Festival and other international programs can be found on the Office of International Programs website as well as the International Programs Instagram, @cltintlprograms.