Photo essay: JFMC hosts Multicultural Fair on Campus Walk

by KENYA CARTER

Staff Photographer

On Saturday, April 9, the Fredericksburg and UMW communities gathered for the annual Multicultural Fair hosted by the James Farmer Multicultural Center. Many local vendors from the Fredericksburg area set up stands to promote and share their ethnic handmade crafts.

According to the James Farmer Multicultural Center website, the Multicultural Fair is an annual event that captivates 5,000 to 6,000 people every year. The main purpose of the event is to spread awareness of people with different cultures and backgrounds. Both international and American food trucks and inflatables for children were offered at the event. 

To complete the experience, while walking around and visiting tables that vendors set up, attendees were able to watch and listen to local performers play their cultural music. Performers were spread out in three different areas along campus walk, ready to share their music. I was able to tune in to a few performances, such as an intertribal powwow, gospel choir and Caribbean musicians to get the full experience of different cultures. 

Going to the Multicultural Fair was a great experience because I like learning about various cultural backgrounds. The fair was very lively with music, artwork and food lined up along Campus Walk. With every table that I turned to, I was greeted with a welcoming smile from the vendors that were thrilled to share and give information about their handmade crafts. Some vendors had handcrafted jewelry, clothes, candles and perfume, while other vendors were showing artwork, henna designs and sharing information about their non-profit organizations.