News
Court Street Goes Global For International Student Week
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
Posted on:
One of the most anticipated spring events of the year — the International Street Fair — will grace the bricks of Court Street in Athens on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The free event allows international Ohio University students and faculty to share their culture with fellow students and Athens community members.
“People can expect to have a lot of fun and experience a lot of global diversity,” said Krista McCallum Beatty, director of international student and faculty services at Ohio University.
Twenty-seven student and community groups will be set up along Court Street with free interactive cultural activities. Activities will include making a mobile from the different flags of the world, face painting, trivia, games, juggling and more.
There will also be many different ethnic foods available, plus cultural performances at the center stage located at Court and Washington Streets.
Selling foods
The International Street Fair, which has been happening in Athens for more than 30 years, will open with the Parade of Flags beginning around 11:30 a.m. McCallum Beatty said participants are encouraged to attend the street fair in traditional dress from across the globe.
Ohio University President Roderick McDavis and Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl are both slated to speak at the event.
McCallum Beatty said that the university receives tremendous support from the city of Athens to host the event. Court Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from Union to State Street for the event and parking in the municipal parking garage on East Washington Street will be free on Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s a great community and university partnership,” McCallum Beatty said.
The International Street Fair marks the end of Ohio University’s International Week. McCallum Beatty said that this year’s international week has been highly successful. She said there was record participation in the International Student Union World Cup soccer tournament and a great turnout for Global Scoop, the international ice cream social on Tuesday, despite the snowy weather.
The last international week event on campus this week will be the International Student Union Talent Show on Friday from 7-9 p.m. in Baker Theater. The free event is open to the public and will feature student talent from across the globe. A reception will follow on the second floor of Baker University Center from 9-11:30 p.m.