2024 Global Community Day Festival

Auburn University Outreach Global, Global Community Day Festival Report Cover

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On Saturday, April 20, 2024, the Auburn University Office of Outreach Global hosted its 3rd annual Global Community Day Festival at the Opelika Amphitheater from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm. The multicultural festival had over 800 attendees, volunteers, and participants from the Auburn/Opelika area and beyond.

The day included a Parade of the Flags, a Global Attire Showcase, an adopt-a-tree event, musical and dance performances, food vendors offering a variety of international cuisines, free food tastings, arts and crafts, and more. Beyond the entertainment, the festival served as an opportunity for cultural exchange and community building, bringing people together from different backgrounds to celebrate their shared humanity.

The 2024 festival had around 800 total attendees, including 148 volunteers/participants, 17 booths, 13 performing groups, 7 food vendors, and 14 sponsors.

There were 35 countries represented at the festival spanning the continents of Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe and Australia/Oceania.

Argentina
Australia
Bangladesh
Benin
Brazil
Canada
China
Columbia
Cote d'Ivore

Ecuador
El Salvador
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Honduras
India

Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Nepal
Nigeria
Pakistan

Peru
South Korea
Sweden
Taiwan
Togo
United Kingdom
United States
Vietnam

All festival attendees were invited to carry a different country flag and walk in the parade, representing our global community.

Participants on stage holding flags Participants in parade carrying United States flag Participants in parade waving flags from many countries Participants holding Auburn University flag Participants in parade holding flags Participants standing behind a flag of Antartica

The Global Attire Showcase, directed by the AU International Cultural Center (ICC), highlighted the significance of traditional clothing in expressing cultural identity and celebrating heritage.

Participants on stage wearing cultural attire Two women dancing on stage wearing cultural attire Group of participants wearing cultural attire Two women standing on stage wearing cultural attire Two female participants at the event wearing cultural attire Two males and a female on stage wearing cultural attire Two females standing in front of the stage wearing cultural attire

VIBE, Opelika High School Celtic Traditions School of Irish Dance Montgomery Greek Dancers Opelika Recycled TeenAgers and Zumba Gold Korean Melody Odyssey Auburn Tango Group, Brenna Ballet Institute Yunmeng Chinese Dance Group AU Chinese Professional Society & AU Chinese Student Organization

Korea Corner Volunteers behind the LatinX Cultural Table People in line at the LatinX Cultural Table Indonesian Students Association Lee County Literacy Coalition Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity ReStore Young Professionals in Training (YPiT) Native American/Indigenous Alliance Auburn University Outreach Connect2Africa Craft Table Sustainable Bio-Based Materials Lab - College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment Auburn University Outreach Global AU Chinese Professional Society AU Chinese Student Organization

several participants in the parade waving flags two girls on stage wearing cultural attire participants in parade waving multiple flags two males attending event in cultural attire and holding flags two young males on stage playing guitars couple on stage dancing

Sponsor logos: Alabama Office of Minority Affairs, City of Opelika, Spicer's Music, DME Delivers, NFBPA, Korea Foundation USA, 4imprint, PRT, CoLab, Auburn University Melton Student Center Student Affairs, Starbucks, Kroger, Krispy Kreme, Target

Office of Outreach Global Staff Acknowledgments

Elizabeth Quansah, Ph.D., MBA, Founding Director, Outreach Global
Olivia Houlden, Administrator, Outreach Global
Mollie McEldoon, Intern, Outreach Global