UCO’s International Student Council Celebrates 50 Years of Edmond International Festival

The University of Central Oklahoma’s International Student Council (ISC) hosted the 50th annual Edmond International Festival on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Edmond Festival Marketplace, 30 W. First St.

The free event brought together students and community members to celebrate cultural diversity through food, performances, and art.

Laughter and live music played along the street, as the smells of Vietnamese grilled pork vermicelli, nasi lemak, and sweet pastries spread from rows of food booths. Visitors passed through colorful displays showing countries from every continent.

Children played nearby, performers adjusted their traditional attire, and families and friends gathered at each country’s booth to take pictures together.

IFEST has been an annual event in Edmond’s cultural calendar since 1975. This year’s celebration was particularly meaningful, as it marked the festival’s 50th anniversary and brought the community together in downtown Edmond.

“The festival is a grand celebration of diversity in Oklahoma,” said Mantrana Upadhyay, secretary of the International Student Council (ISC).

“It’s an opportunity for locals and international students to connect and learn from each other.”

Upadhyay said that ISC and each country’s organizations began planning the festival early in the semester, holding weekly meetings, site visits, and rehearsals to ensure that every detail was in place.

“Planning such a huge event that has about 4,000 attendees each year is a heavy task,” she said. “There are always challenges, but we all band together and make it work.”

Each booth attracted many people excited to learn about different cultures and collect stamps for free meals. Every booth featured crafts and artwork from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Traditional dances and music heated the crowd, leading to clapping and cheers throughout the day.

Yong Shen Wong, a UCO alumnus, complimented this year’s performances and atmosphere. “I really enjoyed the performances this year; they were full of energy,” Wong said. “The food was also amazing, especially getting to try dishes from so many cultures in one place.”

“Hosting the festival is a way for locals to travel around the globe without leaving Edmond,” Upadhyay said. “For international students, it’s a way to showcase their love and pride for their home, culture, and traditions.”

Throughout the day, visitors interacted with students from different organizations, explored new foods, and learned how to say “hello” in several languages. The event also provided STLR credit to UCO students who attended, connecting cultural participation with the university’s transformative learning objectives.

As the event came to a close, the festival grounds became quieter. Members of the lSC and volunteers packed up booths while peaceful music played in the background, marking the end of another excellent year for IFEST.

“Watching the community come together so beautifully feels exhilarating,” Upadhyay said. “It’s almost like witnessing the whole world in one day.”

Upadhyay said she hoped visitors left not only with new favorite foods and songs but also with a deeper understanding of the global community around them. “The festival reminds us how diverse our world is,” she said, “and how beautiful it can be when we all come together.”

Editor’s Note: This article was updated to reflect world regions rather than individual countries to better represent the variety of booths and cultures the festival offered.