Travel the globe in less time than it normally takes to make an airline reservation when strolling through the International Festival Avenue of Nations. Learn about diverse and ancient cultures at the Avenue of Nations, the place to get acquainted with Spartanburg's international community. Visit each country's booth and ask questions as you travel from country to country right here in Downtown Spartanburg.
One of the International Festival's featured attractions, the Avenue of Nations is also the place where kids stop to get their passports stamped, and offers a chance for some Upstate residents to take a trip "back home" and reconnect with their roots. See one-of-a-kind artifacts, beautiful clothing, and authentic memorabilia as you meet people from all over the world.
Honoree
Since 2007, a country (or other area) has been selected by International Cultures of Spartanburg to be the honored during the International Festival. The culture of the honored country is represented in various ways throughout the festival, including being located at the front entrance to the park with 8-10 displays representing the country.
For 2022, International Festival honors Colombia
Past Honorees include:
2007: Germany
2008: China
2009: Continent of Africa
2010: Continent of South America
2011: Scandinavia
2012: Switzerland
2013: Italy
2014: Japan
2015: Festival canceled
2016: Mexico
2017: Finland
2018: Philippines
2019: Puerto Rico
Parade of Nations
It’s a scene reminiscent of a Disney Parade or the opening ceremony of the Olympics when festival-goers line the sidewalks for the annual Parade of Nations, held at 2 pm. Festival participants from our Avenue of Nations educational booths and our stage performers all join in to be part of the parade, displaying signs with their country's name, carrying their country’s flag, and following the winding sidewalks through the park.
If you only have a short time during the day to visit the festival, you definitely don't want to miss the parade
2022 Avenue of Nations
Europe
1 Belarus Halina Palukoshka
2 Romania Dorotea Gabel
3 Sweden Laura Karas
4 Denmark Beverly Adamson
5 Spain Silvia Rica & Aixa Anderson
6 Germany Beate Pirchmoser & Mark Mezger
7 France Monique & Bill Glass
8 Czech Republic Lyle Campbell
Africa
9 South Africa Maptiso Rivera
10 Kenya Sylglenda Saziru & Naz Saziru
11 MENA (Middle East & North Africa) Wofford College
Asia
12 Hmong/ Laos Georgia Parker
13 Turkey Fikret Burgazli & Yuksel Sonmez
14 Philippines Jasmine Long
15 South Korea Youmi Efurd & Sara Yoon
Caribbean
16 Haití Sammuel Jean
17 Jamaica Caveril Pryce
South America
18 Paraguay Carolina Recalde
19 Brazil Luciana Lord & Juliane Rabuske
20 Panamá Martha Dupes
North America
21 Mexico Angela Castillo & Lili
22 USA Ron Stanley
23 Canada Douglas A. Jackson
International Festival Photos
