Longview invites visitors to the 26th annual International Festival

The Lower Columbia College Student Center will be alive with cultures from around the world Saturday, June 4 as the Ethnic Support Council puts on its 26th annual International Festival in Longview.

The event, co-sponsored by the LCC Multicultural Club, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the student center and outside it.

Admission is free, thanks to donations from Bruno’s Pizza, Columbia Ford, Kirkpatrick Family Care, Longview Police Benefit Association, PeaceHealth and various individuals who contributed $20 to $750 each to show their support of the event. The City of Longview’s tourism fund also contributes to attract people from outside the area to visit.

Attendees from beyond Cowlitz County can win cash in special drawings before the last five performances.

Event organizer Cindy Lopez Werth said the festival is held each year to celebrate the area’s growing diversity through multicultural entertainment, “world market” vendors, ethnic food booths and various children’s activities offered by community groups.

Werth said she is donating $100 from her own pocket to reward people who attend from other areas beyond Cowlitz County. She will hold five special drawings for people 18 and older who can prove they live outside Cowlitz County by showing a current driver’s license, state ID card or a piece of mail showing a home address that is not in Cowlitz County. The first of five $20 cash prizes will be awarded at about 10:55 a.m. The last four drawings will be at 11:55 a.m., 12:55 p.m., 1:55 p.m. and 2:55 p.m. just before a performance. People must register at the Ethnic Support Council table before the drawings and must be present to win. Individuals may register only once.

Werth said that although the festival admission is free, donations are gratefully accepted throughout the day. “Keeping the International Festival a free event is a top priority for our planning committee. We greatly appreciate the donations, whether it’s $1 or $20. It all helps.”

For more information about the Ethnic Support Council or the International Festival, text or call 360-751-4427 or e-mail cindylopezwerth@comcast.net. The event flyer will be available at http://www.ethnicsupportcouncil.org on the website’s events page the week leading up to the festival.