HUNTINGTON BEACH : Golden West to Hold 2nd Cultural Festival

Golden West College will hold its second annual Intercultural Festival of Friendship this week, emphasizing understanding and cultural awareness among the campus’ various ethnic groups.

The public is invited to the weeklong festival, which will highlight a different culture each day. The festival runs today through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m daily.

The event, sponsored by the college’s Associated Students and the year-old Intercultural Center, will feature free food samples, music, art and other cultural displays.

The festivities begin today with “multicultural continental day,” featuring performances by a jazz band and barbershop quartet, and Polynesian dance demonstrations.

Tuesday is Latin-American day, which will include a pinata benefit for the college’s child-care center, a mariachi band and a performance by Relampago del Cileo, a Mexican folklore troupe. Speakers will include Mexican Consul Felipe Soria Ayuso.

On Wednesday, the festival will focus on European cultures, featuring a choral recital by students from Bennett Hicks Elementary School in Newport Beach and from Lycee Francais de Huntington Beach.

French Consul Bianca Patrignan will discuss the new European Community.

Thursday is Asian day, which will focus on the college’s large Vietnamese population and will include dragon dancers and a fashion show.

The festival will conclude Friday with an awards luncheon for winners of the college’s essay and portrait contests, which focus on the theme of cultural diversity. Cash awards of $175, $125 and $75 will be presented in each competition.

Admission is free, and visitors are encouraged to wear traditional cultural attire.