Hokies United for Japan to hold fundraising, awareness event at International Street Fair April 2

Update: Hokies United for Japan will hold an event to raise funds for and awareness of the victims in Japan as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami.

The event will be held in conjunction with the International Street Fair on April 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Street fair attendees will be encouraged to join members of Hokies United for Japan in folding origami cranes. According to Japanese legend, anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury.

Hokies United for Japan’s goal — making a thousand cranes during International Street Fair — will symbolize our heartfelt wishes for Japan’s recovery from the devastating earthquake, tsunami, and possible nuclear disaster.

Funds collected during International Street Fair will be distributed to various relief efforts. Virginia Tech student organizations will also be collecting funds to be donated to the various relief efforts and will announce the amount of the funds raised on April 2.

52nd annual International Street Fair to feature food, music, and dance from around the world

BLACKSBURG, Va., March 10, 2011 -- On April 2, College Avenue in Blacksburg will be the site of an international festival featuring food, crafts, and live performances. 

The Virginia Tech International Street Fair, in its 52nd year, will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the street fair is free and open to the public.

One of the spring semester’s most lively and anticipated events, the International Street Fair affords the public an opportunity to sample various aspects of diverse cultures in a casual, family-friendly environment. This year’s theme, “No Passport Required,” encourages attendees to see the world without leaving Blacksburg by visiting decorated booths where vendors sell traditional arts and crafts and typical dishes from their countries of origin. The street fair also features live music and dance performances that celebrate the broad cultural diversity represented in Virginia Tech’s international student population.

“We are deeply proud of Virginia Tech’s international student community and are grateful for the many ways they enrich our campus life,” said Kim Beisecker, director of Virginia Tech’s Cranwell International Center. “Our International Street Fair affords the larger off-campus community a marvelous opportunity to celebrate the diversity represented in our international student population. The street fair’s long history attests to the openness that defines both our on-campus and off-campus communities.”

Among the student organizations scheduled to perform this year are the Association for Bangladeshi Students, Cedars of Lebanon, the Chinese American Society, Indian Students Association, the Iranian Society at Virginia Tech, Salsa Tech, and the Saudi Student Club.

“We look forward to another extremely successful International Street Fair,” said Lubna Chowdhury, of Dhaka, Bangladesh, a senior majoring in industrial and systems engineering in the College of Engineering and president of Virginia Tech’s Council of International Student Organizations. “It brings together our campus and off-campus communities in a festive environment. Our International Street Fair is a wonderful reminder that there is great strength in our diversity here at Virginia Tech and in the surrounding region.”

Another popular feature of the street fair is its Kids Zone, a space dedicated to helping younger attendees experience internationally-themed activities.

The street fair is a highlight of the university’s International Week, which runs April 1 through April 9. A full schedule of other International Week events is available on the Council of International Student Organizations Website.

The International Street Fair is sponsored by the Council of International Student Organizations, which is advised by Cranwell International Center, a department within the Division of Student Affairs. Oasis and Global Foods are two of the local business sponsors for this year’s International Street Fair. Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. is also a sponsor of this year’s fair.

In the event of inclement weather, the fair will be held inside Squires Student Center.

For the International Street Fair, parking is available in the in the Architecture Annex lot, which will be accessible via the south end of Otey Street. Find more parking information online or call (540) 231-3200.