Greenwood Skate Center will host an activity to bring together people of different cultures and raise money for the Bowling Green International Festival. Roll Around the World Skating Party and Carnival will be from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday at the center. Other activities will include games, prizes and a carnival. The Lotus Dancers will give free belly-dance lessons at 8 p.m. followed by a Kung Fu demonstration and free lesson by Aus Shaolin Kung Fu Academy at 10 p.m. All the proceeds will benefit the festival. The International Festival is a fantastic program, and I would like to see it grow and grow, said Ken Meridith, owner and operator of Greenwood Skate Center. We want to put the funds (from the skating event) back into the community and make it a better one for all our children. Now in its second year, Roll Around the World drew about 400 skaters last year, Meridith said. Id like to take that up to 600 people this year, he said. Kim Mason, executive director for the International Festival, said she appreciates the help the festival is getting from Meridith. I think its wonderful that hes so supportive and helping to encourage kids to try new things, she said. He cares about our kids. Meridith said he cares about the children so much, he strives to provide a good environment for them at the center. This is a place where kids can come, and parents can feel safe with them being here, he said. Its a drug-free, violence-free place. Meridith views the event as a way to promote cultural diversity. Children can learn from each other. We have every nationality that you can think of that come to the skate center and they all have a ball, he said. The goal is if you can get kids together at an earlier age, they have the opportunity to learn from other children. Children are children wherever theyre from. Admission for Roll Around the World is $5 to skate from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. or from 9 p.m. to midnight and $9 to skate from 6 p.m. to midnight and includes skate rental. For more information, call the skate center at 843-3394. For more information about the International Festival, visit the event Web site at www. BGInternationalFest.com.