CARLSBAD — North County residents became citizens of the world March 19 at Experience the World in the Village, a city-sponsored, family-friendly event held in the Carlsbad Village.
Saturday’s free family event featured activities that explored different cultures of the world through craft projects, international cuisine at the Carlsbad Village Farmers’ Market and live performances.
“We wanted our spring event to have an international flavor to highlight the diversity of the businesses in the Village,” Fountain said. “We have a lot of participants and sponsors that really make this a community event.”
Craft projects included an African facemask station and paper flower bouquets. Families were also invited to participate in an African drum circle sponsored by the Museum of Making Music and a Mexican piñata burst activity.
“The kids have had a blast,” Carlsbad resident Renee Simpson said. Simpson and her husband Scott brought their children Baxter, 5, and Amelie, 6, to the event. “This is great — it’s like a big world-themed birthday party. We’d definitely come again.”
Performances by Bad Blokes, New Village Arts Theatre and the Montessori School of Arts and Sciences celebrated different cultures through plays, song and dance. A family scavenger hunt in the Village identified international businesses and the countries they represent.
Experience the World in the Village also featured bocce ball, sponsored by the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, and an International Wii Dance Competition.
“We wanted this event to be the place to be today; it’s great to watch the kids have so much fun doing simple crafts and activities,” Fountain said. “It’s also an opportunity to introduce or reacquaint residents to all that’s offered in the Village.”
The city of Carlsbad hosted the free event following direction from City Council, who voiced an interest in seeing more family-friendly events in the Village, Fountain said.
An international theme representing the diversity of the Village was chosen for the spring event, which featured a format similar to the October’s successful Halloween on Elm, Fountain said.
“We looked at all the culture in the Village
and because we have all of these businesses, we were able to tie in different types of stories, crafts and entertainment to reflect that,” Carlsbad’s Community Relations Manager Jessica Padilla Bowen said.
The event was hosted through presenting partnerships with the Carlsbad Educational Foundation, Carlsbad Village Association, New Village Arts and Snyder Art & Design.
Additional supporting partnerships included the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, Carlsbad Danish Bakery, Kidville, Rhythmworx, Sea Life Carlsbad Aquarium, the Museum of Making Music and Kids for Peace.
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