International House Davis is celebrating 40 years at 10 College Park Davis with the International Festival 2024 on October 5th and 6th.
By: Shelly Gilbride, International House Davis
International Festival 2024 will feature music, dance, food, art, crafts and ideas from around the world with 2 days of events and programs.
On Saturday night October 5th and all day Sunday October 6th, music, dance, food, and art from around the world will fill International House Davis (I-House) at 10 College Park!
For the first time since International House Davis started producing the International Festival in 2011, the event will take place on-site at International House Davis, celebrating the 40th anniversary of this beloved home for international culture. International Festival 2024 is named ifest@ihouse this year and offers 2 exciting events.
On Saturday evening October 5th from 6-10 pm, Tastes & Sounds of ifest@ihouse will kick off the festival. It is a ticketed pre-festival party featuring a backyard concert with local favorite bands Raices and Bomba Fried Rice and international culinary delights including Argentinian empanadas and flavors from Laos, Persia, Zimbabwe and Mexico. Delta of Venus is providing drinks. Tickets are $45 if purchased in advance.
On Sunday October 6th from 12-6 pm, every nook and cranny of International House and the park at College Park will be filled with music, dance, food, art, and crafts from around the world for ifest@ihouse, a free family-friendly event.
There will be 6 hours of music and dance performances from Mexican Folklorico to K-Pop, interactive workshops and lectures including Brazilian Capoeira and Chinese calligraphy, and a vendor village full of over 50 artisan vendors, and informational booths.
“Over 20 different performing groups are showcasing their cultural traditions through music and dance this year and we have some interactive workshops as well. It will be a great celebration.” says I-Fest Director Shahzana Ali, “We have some amazing new groups like Mexican traditional music group Son Bugambilia and longtime favorites like Davis Wakamatsu Taiko Dan, Davis’ local Japanese Taiko drumming group. This shows what International House is all about, gathering the community together to learn, share, and celebrate across languages, cultures, countries, and boundaries”.
Parking will be limited on College Park, so everyone is encouraged to bike to the festival. Parking is free across the street on campus over the weekend.
For more information about International Festival Davis, click here.
International House Davis is an international culture center dedicated to nurturing the exchange of arts, culture, and ideas to build an inclusive, culturally-vibrant, and globally-connected community. People from all over the world come together in our beloved gathering space to celebrate our common humanity, share cultural practices and traditions, engage with our differences, cultivate joy, combat isolation, and foster civic dialogue. Learn more at internationalhousedavis.org.
