Several hundred people attended the Cultural Fair on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the North Suburban YMCA in Northbrook.
The free afternoon event was presented by the Village of Northbrook’s Community Commission with the collaboration of event partner, the YMCA, on Techny Road. This was the Cultural Fair’s third year.
The fair featured entertainment, crafting activities, a buffet of free food samples and 15 community tables staffed by local organizations.
The gym accommodated performances, the resource tables and a long buffet line. A mirrored room across from the gym was used for martial arts coaching.
“The mission of the Community Commission is to encourage inclusivity in our town and what better way to do that than to celebrate all the different cultures that make up Northbrook,” said Jennifer Saperstein of Northbrook, Community Commission chair.
“It’s our goal to have as many different cultures here as possible,” Saperstein said about the fair.
Judy Hughes of Northbrook, president of the Northbrook Historical Society, was on hand at one of the many community tables showcasing Northbrook.
“Without us, our history is an empty box,” Hughes said about the historical society.
“We’ve always been a diverse community from the very beginning,” Hughes said.
“We have, in our schools, over 40 languages spoken.
“And it says that we are a diverse community and we need to be a welcoming community,” Hughes said.
Entertainment included the Vyshyvanka School of Dance, the Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute of Chicago and Trinity Irish Dancers. The schedule included drum music, vocal music and other forms of dance.
Lynna Gripentrog of Deerfield, the parent of Emi Gripentrog, 3, of Deerfield sat backstage with Emi before the child performed with the Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute.
Performing at the event helps,” by celebrating each other’s differences and similarities,” Gripentrog said.
New this year was the Mobile Museum of Tolerance, a museum on a bus that was parked outside.
Elected officials and community leaders used it as a photo opportunity backdrop.
“Having the Mobile Museum of Tolerance is wonderful,” said Kathy Fielding, North Suburban YMCA chief executive officer.
“Especially in today’s day and age, it reminds us that we are all different but we’re all the same and having this here reminds us to be tolerant of everybody and we can all learn and do things,” Fielding said.
“And having this event here is so wonderful for the Y because that’s what we do in the community.
“We’re here for all.”
