HUNTINGTON BEACH : Wind Blows Festivities Indoors

Strong winds forced Golden West College to move its Intercultural Festival of Friendship activities indoors Tuesday, but they still attracted more than 200 visitors for the midday events, a spokeswoman said.

“Latin American Day” events, which had been planned in the quad area of the campus, were moved into the student cafeteria.

Sheltered from the elements, the event went on with a mariachi band performance, free food samplings, traditional dances, a luncheon featuring Mexican Consulate representative Felipe Soria Ayuso and other activities, said Brunie Cronk, executive director of the college’s Intercultural Center.

The worst damage that Monday night’s rains and Tuesday’s continued winds caused was the destruction of some signs on campus promoting and directing patrons to the event site, said Cronk, coordinator of the weeklong festival.

“I’m so pleased about how things went,” Cronk said. “I was so concerned about whether (Tuesday’s) events would go all right, having been moved indoors. But things went really well, better than I’d expected.”

The festival, which aims to foster understanding and communication among diverse cultures, continues through Friday, featuring a different culture each day.

Today is dedicated to European culture. Highlight will be an appearance by French Consulate press attache Bianca Patrignani, who will deliver a speech about the European Community. Choir students from two elementary schools will sing traditional French songs.

Activities today will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., tentatively to be held on the student center patio.