Annual Cultural Fair At VGCC Features Entertainment, Exhibits

How’s this for a deal? Entertainment, exhibits, vendors and food from around the world all under one roof – and all for free.

That’s what the annual Cultural Fair at Vance-Granville Community College on Thursday, Feb. 28, will offer.

The college’s Cultural Enhancement Committee sponsors the Cultural Fair each year. The 15-member committee was formed to develop a diversity enhancement plan to submit annually to the North Carolina Community College System, to enhance awareness of globalization and cultural diversity, and to plan and direct an annual Cultural Fair.

This year’s fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Civic Center on VGCC’s main campus in Vance County. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend and get a look at a variety of cultures.

Entertainment scheduled for the fair includes songs by the children from the VGCC Daycare Center, by Royalty from Dabney Elementary School, the Honor and Praise Ensemble of Oxford, and a Henderson barbershop quartet. In addition, area guitarists Juan Gomez and Suzanne Keil will play Spanish music, Nelson Francois of Henderson will perform Haitian Reggae dance, Leroy West of Warrenton will play the harp, and Native American Bob Raven will tell stories of the people.

A variety of exhibitors will show cultural and historical artifacts from around the world, and numerous ethnic foods will be available for tasting, beginning at 11 a.m.

Vendors will be on hand to show their products and crafts. Included will be clay pots, paintings and ceramics, leather bags and other goods, jewelry, scrapbooks, T-shirts and notecards, and baby blankets.

Helen Lindsey, chairman of the Cultural Enhancement Committee said she hopes many people will attend so, “We can tear down walls and build bridges so that we may understand and appreciate people who are different.”

Anyone with questions about the Cultural Fair may call Lindsey at (252) 492-2061, ext. 3229.