RAPID CITY, S.D. (March 12, 2013) - International students from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and a variety of community groups will celebrate their cultural diversity with food, entertainment and displays during the annual expo Thursday, April 4, and Saturday, April 6. Approximately 20 countries will be represented.
The 2013 Cultural Expo will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Surbeck Center ballroom on campus. Admission is free. Thursday activities will primarily target visitors from area schools, while Saturday events will be open to the campus and community.
On Saturday, food and entertainment will be available. Tickets for a variety of international food samplings prepared by students and community groups will be $7 for adults and $4 for children under 10. Food will be available from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Free entertainment will begin at approximately 11 a.m. on Saturday only and will feature a variety of traditional music, dancing and fashion shows from a wide range of cultures.
Organizers expect about 400 school children from throughout the Black Hills to attend Thursday's events, which will include cultural activities, storytelling and traditional crafts.
The School of Mines currently enrolls 140 international students from more than 35 countries. International students have been sharing their cultures with the community through this annual event for more than 40 years.
In addition to the Ivanhoe International Center and the university's Student Association, other sponsors of the annual festival are International Students, Inc., Black Hills Power and Pepsi.