On Saturday, September 23, amidst a whirlwind of Family Weekend activities, the Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support (CIES) hosted the 2023 Culture Fest. This event aimed to create a unique learning experience for the Decorah community.
The event lasted from 3-7 p.m. and saw a wide range of students, community members and vendors. Along with vendors there were many performers from Luther and beyond that displayed an array of dances and musical renditions. As well as performances, there were many booths covering an array of subjects that hosted trivia, info and connections outside of Luther. Student organizations were given the option to table at the event and many did, including CIES, Center for Global Learning (CGL), and members of International Students and Allies Association (ISAA), seeing Culture Fest as a way to connect Luther with the surrounding Decorah community. Kayla Will (‘25), a recent transfer student, explained the fun her and her family had exploring the festival.
“I just really enjoyed that it was kind of a good way to connect with the Decorah community and explore some interesting food with my family,” Will said. “Being a transfer [student], my family and I had not really had the chance to get out and see Decorah, and I thought that, overall, this event was a great learning experience and just really fun.”
One student, Liz Clement (‘26) touched on how she enjoyed seeing her fellow students and surrounding community interact at the event, embracing different identities at Luther in the process.
“I loved being able to see my classmates almost ‘in their element’ and really just have a good time,” Clement said. “Even though the weather wasn’t great and it was a bit rainy, everyone had smiles on and looked like they were having a good time.”
The best part for some, like Faith Pavlos (‘27), was not just the community or events but rather the traditions and the ability to try cuisine that is not traditionally or frequently offered at Luther.
“It was very cool to have the opportunity to explore different foods and get a break from the cafeteria food,” Pavlos said. “It was all really good, and I am glad that my parents made it a point to stop there after the other events on campus.”
Community building was a major theme of Culture Fest and one that will continue into the rest of the Luther school year. CIES will host another community-focused event, the Homecoming Fellowship Cookout, on October 6 in Baker Commons from 4-6 p.m.
