Three-day festival celebrates culture

An annual festival that celebrates culture and inclusion at Grand Valley will take place March 21-23.

Intercultural Festival will feature food, music, dance and displays from a variety of cultures. The celebration, organized by the Laker Tradition Team in the Office of Student Life, will take place on the Allendale Campus. 

Kara Jacoboni, campus traditions graduate assistant in Student Life, said the festival will recognize cultures that encompass characteristics and hobbies, as well as beliefs and values.  

"According to OrgSync, there are 19 cultural student organizations on campus, but this festival looks at culture in a different way — the video game culture is just as important as the Belly Dancing Club. Culture can be found everywhere and anywhere," she said. 

Some events are listed below; see a complete list at gvsu.edu/if.  

• Sexy Accent Night: March 21, 7 p.m., Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center. The event, planned by the International Students Organization, will celebrate the diversity of Grand Valley's international students. Food and entertainment will be provided. 

• CRP Lecture with Anand Giridharadas: March 23, 7 p.m., Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center. Giridharadas is author of "The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas." The book is the 2017 selection for Grand Valley's Community Reading Project. 

• Student Showcase: March 23, 8 p.m., Cook-DeWitt Center. Spotlight Productions will host a showcase featuring student organizations and food from around the world. 

Intercultural Festival has been a Grand Valley tradition since 2005, but has roots dating back to the first class of Grand Valley State College in 1963.