by Anna Oakes
Staff Writer
“A Taste of the Nations,” a multicultural festival celebrating
diversity around the world and in the community, will be held at
the Watauga County Public Library Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
in the library’s meeting room.
The event will feature food, music, dance, art and information from
a variety of cultures living in the Watauga community.
“[The purpose of the event] is to show the community the diversity
of the community and the people that are here,” event organizer
Eric B. Rawls said. “Some [people] would never realize that
they’re here.”
Rawls is an independent event planner that frequents the Watauga
County Public Library. He and Evelyn Johnson, an Adult Services
specialist at the Public Library, came up with the idea for the
event.
Local community members representing France, Macedonia, Africa and
several Latin American countries will participate in the event.
Visitors will have the opportunity to look at pictures and facts
about different cultures, and students from the community will carry
flags of different nations that they made especially for “A
Taste of the Nations.”
In addition, several local vendors will donate food for the event.
At 1:30 p.m., a program including traditional song, dance and dress
will begin, Rawls said. There will be opportunities for audience
participation, Rawls said.
“[Visitors] can actually ‘taste the nations’ physically
and aesthetically,” Rawls said. “People can come, enjoy,
have good food, meet different people, and [experience] the diversity
that there is in Boone.”
“Part of it, too, is that a lot of kids don’t know about
the Watauga County Library,” Rawls said. “We want to
let [students] know that they’re part of their community,
too.”
Many of the speakers are from Appalachian State University, he said.
“My background is diverse and I remember how much that added
to my life,” Rawls said.
“To be able to share widens you as a person,” Rawls
said. “It adds to the community. You never know if you like
something until you try it. It’s my heart’s desire to
get people together,” Rawls said.
Sarah J. Campbell is the Youth Services specialist at the Watauga
County Public Library. She and the library’s junior friends
have been making flags representing different cultures in preparation
for “A Taste of the Nations.”
“I believe that ‘A Taste of the Nations’ will
bring together a variety of different cultures and expose them to
things that they would not normally be around,” Campbell said.
“I think it will be great for older people and children,”
Campbell said.
Judith A. Winecoff also works with Youth Services at the Public
Library.
“I think the university brings in a variety of people [to
this area],” Winecoff said. “The local heritage brings
a lot to the community as well.”
The Watauga County Public Library is located at 140 Queen St., one
block north of the downtown Boone location of Mast General Store.
For more information, contact the library’s reference desk
at 264-8784.
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