6,000 Expected At North Penn For International Spring Festival

LANSDALE, PA. – The 25th annual International Spring Festival will be held April 16, 2016, at North Penn High School in Lansdale from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival celebrates the region’s diversity through the visual, culinary and performing arts.

This year all attendees are being asked to sign their name and ancestry to a large scroll with the goal to send it to the White House to show how people can come together and celebrate their heritage. People who cannot attend the festival, are asked to visit www.wesupportisf.com and add their name to the effort.

The festival features live entertainment and performances on five stages, an international food court, over 100 display tables including 30 nationality exhibits, a health fair and international vendors. Admission and parking are free. Weather permitting, there will also be outdoor activities and entertainment including a live animal show.

“We are proud of the International Spring Festival for its commitment to promoting diversity and celebrating the cultural mosaic of Montgomery County,” said Josh Shapiro, Chairman of the Montgomery County Commissioners.

For the kids:

Many fun and educational activities for children will be part of the event including trying on culture specific attire and costumes and playing musical instruments from various countries. The Passport Progam is an activity in which kids learn about different countries and upon completion of the program, they have a chance to create art traditional to various regions as well as win prizes.

Back by popular demand, Students Affairs will again be hosting the WorldQwest Scavenger Hunt. This scavenger hunt is designed to bring cultural awareness to the post-millennial generation. Powered by Google and QR code technology the scavenger hunt is completely mobile for 2016. Students will be able to utilize their mobile devices to hunt for clues to answer questions and also participate in a variety of activities throughout the festival. Students will earn raffle tickets for their participation and also will earn extra raffle tickets for their involvement in the festival’s social media campaign #ISF2016. This year’s raffle is sponsored by HRBenefix of Souderton, PA.

“The goal of the International Spring Festival is to celebrate the diversity of the area in a fun way while sharing knowledge through art, music, food and educational activities. We promote peace and acceptance in our community and throughout the entire region,” said Dr. Francis Jeyaraj, one of the founders of the festival. “We look forward to hosting the entire community for a full day of fun and entertainment,” added Alexa Sullivan, chair of Student Affairs.

Collaborators in the event include Lansdale Public Library; North Penn School District; Abington Jefferson Health (Lansdale Hospital); Christopher Dock Mennonite High School; The Reporter; and WNPV. Financial sponsors include Comcast; PDC Machine; Einstein Medical Center Montgomery; Montgomery County Commissioners; North Penn United Way; UNIVEST - Banking, Insurance, Investments; QNB Bank; Harleysville Savings Bank; TD Bank; Doylestown Health; Aetna; AnB Education, PennSuburban Chamber of Greater Montgomery County; United Healthcare; HRBenefix; Wegmans; The Riad Family; and VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn. On-going in-kind supporters are Montgomery County Community College; Crayola; and Hatfield Quality Meats.

The Festival continues to expand its mission and has developed strategic partnerships with the Montgomery County Commissioners, Pearl S. Buck International, Microsoft, and the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board.