Cultural Celebration

Southern Nevadans who may be hungering for a taste of internationally flavored food and entertainment can fill their plates Saturday at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' 18th annual Festival of Communities.

The festival, which will take place in and around UNLV's student center, is the closing event of this year's UnityFest, a student program that celebrates the cultural traditions that make up the UNLV and Las Vegas-area communities.

"This is actually the second year we've had this format," says Kevin Vicker of UNLV's Office of Student Diversity Programs and Services.

Previously, the festival was a primarily student-oriented event featuring about two dozen booths. But, Vicker says, "last year we decided to ramp it up and do more outreach to the community and do it as a Las Vegas community event.

"So, we had about 1,000 people last year and we're trying to double or triple that this year."

Participating in this year's festival will be about 30 community vendors and about 50 student vendors and organizations, Vicker says.

Featured will be tastings of food from around the world, arts and crafts and about five hours of live music, dance and performance offerings.

In addition, children's activities will include carnival games, face painting, henna art and balloon art.

The Festival of Communities is sponsored by UNLV's Office of Student Diversity Programs and Services. Free parking will be available in campus parking lots.

For more information, visit the festival Web site at getinvolved.unlv.edu/entertainment/festival_of_communities/index.html.

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.