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Addison's
WorldFest features sampling of international cultures
12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, October
26, 2008
By ARLINDA ARRIAGA / The Dallas Morning News
aarriaga@dallasnews.com
JOHN F. RHODES/DMN
Heather Hunt, whose stage name is Sarafina, performed with the
Wings of Isis belly dancing company at WorldFest on Saturday in
Addison.
Food, music and crafts from more than 60 countries filled
Addison Circle Park during the event, sponsored by the town of
Addison and the DFW International Community Alliance.
Dennis Kraft, the town's deputy mayor pro tempore, said the
event shows how the town embraces diversity.
He said the festival represented the many cultures that exist in
the Dallas-Fort Worth area. "Here, we don't turn away people or
throw people out of our town; we embrace the culture," he said.
The fest included a tent where children could make crafts from
around the world. Paul Petros, who helped his 5-year-old
daughter, Zoe, paint a wooden house from Germany, said the event
was a lot more family-oriented than other events.
"It is definitely something different, especially because there
is a lot more for people to do with their kids," Mr. Petros
said.
The community alliance passed out passports for children to get
stamped as they visited different countries' information booths.
"It's an event that allows people to share their cultures with
others. Too many people are afraid of the unknown, and this
event eliminates that fear," said Pat Searman, spokeswoman of
the event.
Other festival goers enjoyed foods from a variety of countries.
Kelly Cornelison, who was selling German strudels, said the
festival allows everyone to taste samples from each country.
"When people come to these events, they expect to try a lot of
new things and foods that they normally wouldn't eat," Ms.
Cornelison said.
Ms. Searman said the organizers hope to make WorldFest an annual
event. "We have the Iran and Iraq cultures both here.
This is the world all together in one park," she said.
"You know how it's Around the World in 80 Days? Well, you can do
it here in one – no passport needed."
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