Festival celebrates diversity

Cultural performances, a parade, fashion and even a petting zoo took over Monroe Park on Sunday for The VCU Intercultural Festival.

The festival, organized by The Intercultural Festival Planning Board, is in its eighth year and is the biggest annual event hosted by the IFPB.

“The idea behind it was to celebrate different diversities and expand cultural awareness,” said student advisor and former director, Shivam Shodhan, a psychology and biology double major.

In past years the ICF was held in the University Student Common’s Plaza, but in order to accommodate the growing number of attendants the festival was moved to Monroe Park.

“We are getting out there and getting bigger, which makes us excited because it’s all about promoting diversity,” IFPB’s Director Rinkal Patel said.

Student organizations held booths and participated in the parade, but because of the events’ popularity, space limitations and funding, the IFPB was forced to limit the number of organizations in the festival. Businesses such as Avon, Village Community and Capital Garage Apartments as well as local vendors also partook in the festivities.

Marcel Kellum, a psychology major, was part of the operations committee for the IFPB. He worked on the layout of where objects and events would be placed in the park, as well as made space reservations.

“I’ve been able to connect with other cultures and meet people I never would have met,” Kellum said.