The Bowling Green International Festival, now in its 22nd year will take place September 24, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Circus Square Park.  Admission is $3 with children 12 and under admitted free of charge.  The festival offers a $2 admission discount for those purchasing their Restaurant Discount Card.  The card, which serves as a fundraiser for the event offers holders 10% off at 34 area restaurants.

Leading up to the festival, children’s poster contest entries portraying this year’s theme “People Helping People” will be on display at the Warren County Courthouse.  Winners will receive awards at the event, kicking off the opening of the three stages. 

Throughout the day acts featuring dance and music from around the world will perform.  While most performers represent traditional music and dance from India, China, The Phillipines, Ireland, Scotland, Bosnia, Peru and other countries, some like the popular HuDost represent modern fusions of various cultures.  In their case, they call the music Alternative Eastern/Country fusion as it blends the traditions of lead singer Moshka’s homeland of Egypt with the sounds of southern bluegrass and country from her partner Jemal Wade Hines’ roots in the southern United States.

Sampling cuisine from foreign lands is a major part of the festival and vendors from area restaurants and nonprofits bring their best.  Food booths registered to participate include Bosnian, Greek, Swiss, Croatian and Carribbean cuisine.  Vendors also include merchandise booths and many local individuals and organizations set up cultural displays representing their homeland or a country they have a personal connection to.

Children’s Activities are also emphased at the Bowling Green International Festival, with pinata bursts each hour as well as a booth with many free activities.  Each pinata is handmade by local sculptor Ronnie Jaggers of Chiseled Features Studio.

To find out more about the event or to participate by setting up a booth or volunteering for a shift, visit www.BGInternationalFest.com.  You can also network with the event on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

2011 Performance Schedule:

Diversity Stage: Stage Manager/Host John M. Thompson

    9:15AM – 10:00AM Opening Ceremony – Poster contest winners, President’s welcome.

    10:00AM – 10:10AM Zion Hill Boom Squad – Drum line

    10:15AM-10:35AM VanDiva Chinese Dance – Traditional, Classic, Folk, Chinese Opera

    10:45AM – 11:30PM Flamenco Talk – Flamenco dance and live music

    11:40PM – 1:10PM The Great Barrier Reefs – Steel drum, world, funk, jazz

    1:25PM – 2:10PM Soul Radics – SKA, reggae, dance hall

    2:25PM – 3:25PM Johnny Thompson – L’Incident International

    3:40PM – 5:10PM HuDost – Alternative world & eastern / country fusion

    5:25PM – 5:40PM Safiya Nawaar – Middle Eastern Dance Artist

    5:45PM – 5:50 PM Filipino American Association of S. KY – Vocalist Ms. Biema Andales

    6:05PM – 7:00PM Salsa Rhythms Band – Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton

Heritage Stage: Stage Manager/Host Armin Hasanagic, Asst. Stage Manager Zlatko Dugandzija

    10:00AM – 10:15AM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatnatyam, classical Indian dance form

    10:30AM – 12:00PM Grupo Ache – Salsa

    12:10PM – 12:55PM Flamenco Talk – Flamenco dance and live music

    1:00PM – 1:20PM VanDiva Chinese Dance – Traditional, Classic, Folk, Chinese Opera

    1:35PM – 2:35PM Roots of a Rebellion – Reggae, Rock, Dub

    2:50PM – 3:50PM Armin Hasanagic – Bosnian traditional & pop

    4:05PM – 5:05PM Salsa Rhythms Band – Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton

    5:15PM – 6:00PM Cheryl Pan – Traditional Chinese Dance

    6:15PM – 7PM Soul Radics – SKA, reggae, dance hall

World Stage: Stage Manger/Host Donnie Botts, Ambush Sound

    10:00AM – 10:15AM Holy Apostles Greek Dancers – Traditional Greek Dance

    10:20AM – 10:35AM Atlantis World Dance Company – Belly Dance

    10:40AM – 10:50AM Zion Hill Boom Squad – Drum line

    10:55AM – 11:00AM Filipino American Society – Traditional songs from the Philippines

    11:05PM – 11:10 PM Indian Student Association – Dances of India

    11:20AM – 12:20PM Armin Hasanagic – Bosnian traditional & pop

    12:30PM – 12:45PM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatnatyam, classical Indian dance form

    12:50PM – 1:05PM Atlantis World Dance Company – Belly Dance

    1:10PM – 1:55PM Zingara – Belly Dance Troupe

    2:10PM – 3:10PM Def Leprechaun – Irish pub songs & ballads

    3:15PM – 4:00PM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatnatyam, classical Indian dance form

    4:05PM -4:35PM Midori Kai – Japanese Bon Dance

    4:40PM – 4:55PM Holy Apostles Greek Dancers – Traditional Greek Dance

    5:00PM – 5:20 PM Saudi Club – Arabic music and dance

    5:25PM – 5:40 PM Vietnamese Student Association – Dances of Vietnam

    5:50PM – 6:35PM Open Mic & Recordings from our past performers – Donnie Botts

    6:45PM – 7:00PM Safiya Nawaar – Middle Eastern Dance Artist

Shamrock & Thistle Ceili in Celtic Nations: Host Steve Haynes     

9AM – 7:00 pm – Open mic, informal jam sessions for Celtic performances and drumming with the High Cross Society and other enthusiasts.     

In the Park:

    Chiseled Features Studio – Children are invited to bust a beautiful handmade pinata by Ronnie Jaggers every hour on the hour