More than 100 vendors will be at this year’s Irmo International Festival, the most ever.

This is the third year in person for the festival, according to  Paula Ludwig who serves on the festival committee for the Town of Irmo. The first year of the festival was held virtually due to COVID-19.

“It’s about bringing other cultures into awareness,” said Ludwig who points out that Hindu, Indian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Ethiopian, Filipino and Caribbean cultures are among those represented. 

Last year, the festival had 52 vendors.

For the first year, the free festival will include a walking parade through the park in which different cultures will display traditional attire. One of the participants is Seven Oaks Elementary who will represent Afghanistan.

Ludwig pointed out that the first 600 families who show up will receive a bag, explaining that organizers noticed last year that people didn’t have anything to put stuff in as they were walking around the park.

There will also be a kids area in one of the grassy portions of the park. Ludwig said there will be an array of kids activities, including balloon artists, face painting and martial arts demos.

A returning feature is the rangoli art display which is an Indian tradition. The rangoli will be on another grassy area and is an artwork made up of all things biodegradable. Ludwig mentions that people can bring things like flowers from their gardens but there will be items people can use to help decorate the art piece.

Another fun feature will be a storytelling tent featuring 12 people retelling stories from around the world and a history of Irmo.