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Travel the globe in less time than it normally takes to make an airline reservation when strolling through the International Festival Avenue of Nations. Get your name written in Chinese or learn about the diverse and ancient culture of India at the Avenue of Nations, the place to get acquainted with Spartanburg's international community. Visit each country's booth and ask questions, and there’s even a list of questions posted at each booth in case you really don't know what to ask.
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.
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 2020, 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 Rice
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
Europe
1 Sweden Laura Karas
2 Belarus Halina Palukoshka
3 Romania Dorotea Gabel, Marieta Raducu
4 Denmark Beverly Adamson
5 Spain Silvia Rica
6 Finland Inka Ginther
7 Latvia Robert Kukainis
8 Germany Mark Mezger
9 France Monique Glass, Beatrice Deligny
10 Czech Republic Lyle Campbell
Africa
11 South Africa Maptiso Rivera
12 Kenya Sylglenda Saziru
13 MENA (Qatar, Morocco, Iran) Wofford College
Asia
14 Turkey Christina Bell
15 Cambodia Docnga and Vanny Sap
16 Hmong/ Laos Georgia Parker
17 India Fareeda Sultana
18 Japan Hiroaki Taono
19 Philippines Jasmine Long
20 South Korea Youmi Efurd
21 Iran Roya Fayyazi
Caribbean
22 Haití Sammuel Jean
23 Jamaica Caveril Pryce
24 Trinidad & Tobago Carol Philbert Tellu
South America
25 Panamá Martha Dupes
26 Brazil Luciana Lord & Juliane Rabuske
27 Colombia Jacqueline File
28 Venezuela Ivette Howard
North America
29 Paraguay Carolina Recalde
30 México Martha Alvarado
31 USA Ron Stanley
International Festival Photos
