The annual OneWorld Multicultural Festival is happening a little earlier this year.
The fourth annual OneWorld festival is moving indoors, taking place on Feb. 25 at the Lakeside Resort from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The move doesn't change the rich variety of the festival. There will still be multicultural entertainment, international cuisines, cultural information booths, vendors and interactive art projects. More than 18 different countries will be represented.
Festivals are often organized to provide entertainment, but events like OneWorld go beyond that to offer social, geographical and cultural understanding.
The goal of OneWorld is to unite the community by celebrating and exchanging knowledge about the culturally diverse traditions that make up the South Okanagan-Similkameen region. It does this through the mediums of art, music, food and diverse artefacts and crafts all under one roof.
The benefits gained from festival experiences include raising cultural awareness and bridging the gap of isolation within the community.
OneWorld is sponsored by South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services, a one-stop shop working with immigrants and refugees to help them settle, find careers and learn all they need to know about starting their new lives in Canada.