International Festival

North Central College's 16th Annual International Festival, "Around the Corner, Around the World," will feature new performance groups, participating community organizations, authentic international cuisine, ethnic dancing, live music and more.

Balcony doors will open at 11:45 a.m. for the opening international flag ceremony; Area floor doors will open afterward.

Food from an international menu and raffle tickets to win prizes will be available for purchase.

All proceeds will support North Central College scholarships for international study.

Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel and North Central College President Harold R. Wilde will open the festival, along with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and North Central cheerleaders participating in an international flag ceremony.  

The festival will include performances by groups including the Nartan Indian Academy of Dance, McNulty Irish Dancers, Weber School of Irish Dance, Ray Chinese School, Flamenco dancers, Sokol, Apollo Dance Troupe, Elite Marshall Arts and Glen Ellyn Aikido Club.

New performers will include Russian dancers, Knights of Lithuania dancers, Philippine American Cultural Foundation Performing Arts and SoulConnection, a youth chapter of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

North Central College students and intective booths hosted by community organizations will perform a lion dance. The organizations will include the Naperville Cultural Center, Sokol, Language Stars, Glen Ellyn Aikido Club, Ray Chinese School, DuPage Children's Museum, AFS Greater Chicago intercultural program, City of Naperville Sister Cities Commission, Polish Friends of Naperville, Naperville Russian Center, Elite Martial Arts and Naperville North High School Spectrum Club.

North Central College student organizations, including the German Club, Japan Club, Fusion Espanola, Students In Free Enterprise and the Office of International Programs will have activities for children and booths to help educate and promote cultural awareness.  

Immersion rooms from eight different cultures and languages-French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Italian, Spanish and Thai-with teachers who are native speakers and students who are fluent in the language.

Advance registration for the 30-minute language rooms is required and can be made by contacting Bessma Shammas at 630-637-5132 or bkshammas@noctrl.edu.

Authentic cuisine, prepared and catered by Belgio's in Naperville, and soft drinks will be available for purchase, ranging from $2 to $5.50.

A raffle for gift certificates for dining at downtown Naperville will take place. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $1 per ticket or $5 for 6 tickets.

All attendees should bring one canned food item to be donated to Loaves & Fishes food pantry in Naperville.