The Clarkston Community Center Presents an International Food & Wine Festival, Saturday, Sept. 10

The Clarkston Community Center will present an International Food & Wine Festival on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 6-9 p.m. in the Center’s Angora Hall. The new event is designed to showcase the cuisine of many countries from which Clarkston’s international population hails, including Ethiopia, Nepal, India, the Caribbean, Thailand, Vietnam, Nigeria and more. Guests will be invited to sample the various dishes, provided by area restaurants, as well as enjoy a collection of international wines. The event is a fundraiser for the Center, which serves over 40,000 people annually through educational offerings, recreational programs and community building. Tickets are $25 per person or $600 per table of eight, and may be purchased at the Center or online at www.clarkstoncommunitycenter.org.

“Clarkston is one of the most diverse small towns in the U.S., if not the most diverse,” said Cindy Bowden, executive director of the Center. “Our neighbors who have relocated to DeKalb County from around the world bring with them their culture, their language and their cuisine. We thought it would be a lot of fun to host a fundraising dinner showcasing dishes from many countries now represented here in Clarkston, and hope to feature some chef demonstrations during the evening, too. We won’t forget our roots, however, and will also offer several traditional Southern favorites!”

The International Food & Wine Festival will include music and dance performances. Dr. R. Stephen Green, superintendent of the DeKalb County School District, will be the keynote speaker. A number of international dignitaries have been invited, including members of Atlanta’s Consular Corps. Because the evening will include wine sampling, guests must be 21 years or older to attend.

About Clarkston Community Center

Established in 1994 and headquartered in the beautifully renovated former Clarkston High School building at 3701 College Ave., Clarkston, Ga., 30021, the Clarkston Community Center offers programs for children, teens, adults and seniors, centered around art, recreation and community building. The Center serves over 40,000 individuals annually, primarily from Clarkston and greater DeKalb County, Ga., many of whom have immigrated to the United States or are newly-arrived refugees. The Center’s programs are designed to bring people together and bridge divides of language, customs, culture and faith. In addition to the headquarters building, the Clarkston Community Center includes an activity field for sports and recreation, acreage for a planned community garden and an additional structure for future development. Angora Hall, the Center’s renovated auditorium and stage, is available for public rental for parties, weddings and other special events. A new fundraising program, Friends of Clarkston Community Center, offers individuals the opportunity to financially support the work of the Center. www.clarkstoncommunitycenter.org