Freeport, The Bahamas – Hundreds turned out to the first annual International Cultural Festival held at the International Bazaar on Sunday, February 20th put on by the International Bazaar Tenants and Owners Association.
The idea was sparked by the Up With People coordinators who felt the International Bazaar a perfect venue to showcase their group’s international flair and to promote their upcoming show on Thursday, February 24th which will feature 100 cast members from 21 countries.
The group arrived in Grand Bahama Island on February 19th thanks to
Discovery Cruise Lines and the Pelican Bay Hotel, and are being housed through the generosity of many host families.
The cast members (some in national costume) were dispersed throughout the Bazaar at tables representing their respective countries and were giving out educational overviews on their country. Local ethnic groups were invited to have tables to sell exotic food dishes from far and wide, including drinks, breads and desserts. There was food from Haiti, Jamaica, The Bahamas and the Philippines.
Children were given Up With People passports where they were encouraged to go to each table and answer questions in the passport, and have them authorized. Upon completion a free ticket was given for Thursday night’s Up with People show to be held at the Sir Jack Hayward High School gymnasium.
Besides the food and education, the entertainment line-up was spectacular. Up With People presented a few numbers giving a sneak peak of their Thursday show, and the crowds also enjoyed the Grand Bahama Youth Choir, the Sunland Bell Choir; the Grand Bahama Dance Theatre; an all-male dance team from Eight Mile Rock called, Exclusive, and the Legends Marching Band.
- Up With People in action at the International Bazaar’s first annual International Cultural Festival. The international travel, community service and performing arts group will be putting on a show on Thursday, February 24th at the Sir Jack Hayward High School gymnasium. The community is invited to come out and enjoy and support two young Bahamians to travel internationally with the group. Tickets are on sale at Pelican Bay, Island Java, and the Seventeen Shop (downtown). Photo: The Bahamas Weekly
The visiting international travel, community service and performing arts group , Up With People is now busy in the Grand Bahama community for three days from Monday through Wednesday, providing assistance at the YMCA, the GB Red Cross, Lewis Yard, the Harvest Foundation, the Keep GB Clean Committee, Urban Renewal, and the International Bazaar.
Their visit culminates with their big international show on Thursday night at 7:30pm at Sir Jack Hayward High School. Tickets are only $10 for adults and $5 for children. The entire community is invited to come out and enjoy. Proceeds will benefit two Bahamian youth to travel with the Up With People organization. Tickets are on sale at Pelican Bay, Island Java, and the Seventeen Shop (downtown).
Up with People,s visit to Grand Bahama is sponsored by the Pelican Bay Hotel and Discovery Cruise Lines with support from their beneficiary, the Grand Bahama Youth Choir and with support by The Bahamas Weekly.
Up with People is an independent nonprofit, [501(c)(3)] organization without any religious or political affiliations. It provides young adults an international and intercultural experience that teaches service leadership and uses the performing arts to deliver messages of hope and goodwill throughout the world. Up with People exists today to spark people to action in meeting the needs of their communities, countries and the world while building bridges of understanding as a foundation for world peace. For more information visit www.upwithpeople.org .
