The free celebration will take place - rain or shine - from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the college's campus directly across from the Farm Show Complex.
The festival -- sponsored by HACC's Multicultural Advisory Committee -- will bring together representatives from the area's ethnic groups including representatives of the Indian, Polish, Croatian, Chinese and Vietnamese communities.
"The festival is intended as a celebration of the richness of our region's heritage," said Jennifer Thompson, HACC director of Multicultural Affairs. "Many ethnic groups call this area home and each has brought their own food and customs. It's the same blending of cultures that has always made America great and we're taking a little time to have some fun and celebrate our diversity."
In addition to celebrating, Thompson said that the Multicultural Advisory Committee hopes to raise some money for a special scholarship for international students at HACC.
"We're selling special Unity Festival tee shirts and many of the vendors at the festival have pledged all or part of their profits in support of the scholarship fund," she said. Festival proceeds will be used to expand funds for HACC's Multicultural Scholarships.
"The festival will feature many ethnicities within the Harrisburg and Central Pennsylvania community with the purpose of bringing the community to the college to see how HACC embraces diversity," said Jennifer Thompson, HACC director of Multicultural Affairs.
Many of HACC's offices, faculty and student organizations will be participating, as well as community groups including Harrisburg Young Professionals, the Polish American Association of Harrisburg, World Cultural Club of Hershey, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian American Affairs, Chinese Culture and Arts Institute, Asian Indian American Community of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania State Police, and Croatian Centers Kolo Club Marian.
Entertainment will include a Didgeridoo player, Latin and Middle Eastern dancing, Flamenco dancing, an International Fashion Show and performances by the Black Achievers Gospel Choir, Danzante, and a Croatian folkdance ensemble called Gemist which includes young adults from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Passage to India, Thai Palace, and Dorothy's Chinese Kitchen will be among the restaurants providing ethnics foods.
Tentative Schedule of events
10:45-11:00 - Chinese Cultural Arts Institute11:00-11:50 - The Yalla Habibi Dance, Enselble and Elysheba
11:10-11:40 - Asian Indian Americans of Central PA
11:50-12:30 - Croatian Folk Ensemble
Noon-1:00 - Funk/Hip Hop Dance Lesson with Jessica Beshore
Noon-4:00 - Valerie Gray - Children's Corner
Rodney Glass Magic - Children's Corner
Super Reader - Reading & Songs - Children's Corner
Rosalina Beard - Pinata Making - Children's corner
Noon-12:45 - Yuebao Ho
12:40-12:50 - Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church StepN4Christ
1:00 - HACC Hawk Soccer Team against Community College of Philadelphia
1:00-1:45 - Creative Word Group
1:00-2:00 - Belly Dance with Renee Wertz
1:00-1:20 - Capital City Polka Club
1:30-2:00 - Asian Indian Americans of Central PA - Dance
2:00-3:00 - Flamenco Dance with Lori Friedlander
2:00-2:45 - International Fashion Show
2:00-2:45 - Danzon - Poetry
2:50-3:00 - Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church DANCN4CHRIST
3:10-3:40 - Danzante
3:00-4:00 - Improvisation with Hughthir White
3:55-4:25 - CCYMCA Black Gospel Choir
4:30-5:30 - Andrea Morato-Lara - Dance
6:00-7:00 - Sift -Music
*7:30 - Nee Danse Performance - Rose Lehrman Arts Center
*Please note that this venue is a paid performance. Tickets may be purchased at the door.
A special series of children's activities sponsored by the Multicultural Club at Mechanicsburg High School will start at 11 o'clock and continue throughout the day.
