South Dakota Mines Invites Community to Experience a World of Culture
For more than six decades, South Dakota Mines international students have shared a little of their home countries with the community during the annual Cultural Expo, an event that brings people together to celebrate global cultures.
The event, which began 64 years ago with the university’s first international students, has grown immensely over the years and has become a must-attend tradition.
“South Dakota Mines' Cultural Expo is a place for global exchange, curiosity, community, and learning from different cultures—values that align well with STEM fields,” said Beth Riley, director of the university’s Ivanhoe International Center. “As the world becomes a global society, engaging with different cultures expands professional and personal perspectives, sparks curiosity and intellectual exploration beyond the classroom environment, and is a wonderful event celebrating many cultures together.”
The 64th Annual Cultural Expo will be held on Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Surbeck Center’s Beck Ballroom. There will be food tasting, entertainment and country displays. The cost is $15 per person, $5 for children 10 and under, and provides participants with a set of sampling tickets to be used at various booths. Tickets can be purchased in advance here.
The doors open at 11 with a lineup of free entertainment featuring traditional music, vibrant dance and a world-class fashion show. Food sampling beings at 11:30 and allows participants to enjoy a variety of authentic international foods while the performances continue on stage.
Five countries and two organizations will be represented at this year’s event, which is hosted by groups from Mines and the local community and is sponsored by the Ivanhoe International Center, international students, faculty, and staff, as well as support from community partners, International Students, Inc., and Black Hills Energy.
Signature events like the Cultural Expo connect communities, celebrate traditions, strengthen community bonds and educate younger generations about diverse cultures.