The Gentex Children’s Fiesta at this year’s International Festival of Holland will offer global fun for all ages. This free, family event will be held during the Festival on Saturday, September 30th, from 2-5pm in the Market View Room of the Holland Civic Center Place.
CultureWorks will host art stations inspired by architecture around the world. There will be hands-on projects based on the stained-glass windows of Europe, the clay and natural materials construction of Diébédo Francis Kéré in Burkina Faso, the geometric designs of traditional Arab buildings, and block printing using motifs from traditional Chinese architecture.
“We’re excited to consider the ways that buildings are not just functional, but also beautiful, and to look at the architectural contributions of four different regions of the world,” explained Miranda Craig, CultureWorks Program Director. “We can learn so much about what people value if we attend to the ways that they shape their homes and places of worship, and we hope that by making art together we will all gain a deeper awareness of our own traditions and a greater appreciation for diverse cultures of people near and far.”
The International Festival Passport Station will also be open for business, where kids can get their picture taken and use stamps from different countries to show how they traveled the world at the International Festival of Holland.
New this year, the Festival Treasure Dig allows kids to dig through a treasure chest to uncover prizes from around the world. This event is sponsored by The Bridge in downtown Holland.
The Fiesta will also feature three interactive components for kids:
- Japanese Drumming Demo with Raion Taiko (2:30-3:00 pm).
- Ballet Folklorico Dance Lesson (3:30-4:00 pm).
- Chinese Dragon Dance with Golden Tiger Kung Fu Academy (4:30-5:00 pm).
“As Ottawa County’s largest employer, Gentex’s employee base naturally reflects the diversity of our community,” said Daniel Quintanilla, Gentex director of talent acquisition. “Sponsoring the International Festival of Holland is a way to say thanks to our team members and the local community while highlighting the strengths of our area’s multiculturalism.”
The International Festival is brought to you by the City of Holland’s International Relations Commission (IRC) and the International Festival of Holland Advisory Board. It is generously sponsored by the Gentex Corporation, LG Energy Solution Michigan, Inc., Haworth Helps, the Holland Area Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, Metal Flow, Plascore, PADNOS, the West Michigan Lakeshore Association of Realtors, the Brooks Family, Holland Hospital, Midwest Communications WHTC 1450 and 99.7FM & The Van 92.7. Visit internationalfestivalholland.com for an updated list of all sponsors and for additional sponsorship opportunities.
