Spring bash preps students for Intercultural Festival

Charles Couch

Contributing Writer

The Intercultural Festival’s Spring Bash brought a flow of students to the Richmond Salons at the University Student Commons last week to participate in a slew of cultural activities.

The mini-event was a preview to let students know about the ICF and to prepare them for the larger event in April, said Consuwella Carrington, ICF’s marketing co-chair.

“We just want to try to get everyone to intermingle with each other and to appreciate everybody,” Carrington said.

Attendants of the ICF Spring Bash played “Dance Dance Revolution” and arcade basketball; got airbrush tattoos and took photos. Performances included the VCU Black Awakening Choir, a demonstration in Capoeira – a Brazilian martial art form – and a bilingual rap by Vreni Michelini.

The ICF board and volunteers continue to work year-round till early April to bring all the cultures in the greater Richmond area together. This requires a lot of effort, planning and some help from student activity fees, said ICF Director Pam Parker.

“(The process) is long, tedious and takes a lot of people to get together,” Parker said.

Alexandria Lynn Paul, a sophomore and the operations co-chair said planning for the actual festival day gets to be hectic for all the board members. Paul said her job includes organizing the layout, reservations and vendors for Monroe Park, where the ICF is held.

“Throughout the year, everything is really crazy and everything that we talk about is all concepts,” Paul said. “But then once you’re on festival day and you see what the 13 of us, literally, have created, you feel really proud of yourself.”

However, the board members are not alone. The ICF has over 100 volunteers working at any given time during the year, Parker said. Their jobs can range from promoting the event to local vendors or students, or to being in the parade on festival day.

Volunteer Committee Chair Kierra Gambrell said she first volunteered during last year’s festival by walking with her friends toward the parade and shouting: “Can we be in it?” Those in the parade replied: “Sure!”

Many board members say they are looking forward to the festival this year after working hard since last April. ICF Assistant Manager Saqib Khan said he is excited to see students’ enthusiasm again this year.

The ICF is on April 10, from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. in Monroe Park.