On March 14, students had the opportunity to learn about different cultures during the 2025 Darlington International Fair. Students and faculty helped organize and research different countries to prepare for the International Fair. Junior Murray Ellington was the International Fair Student Organizer. This special event allows students to learn about countries and celebrate different cultures their friends are from that they do not know about on a regular school day.
“The International Fair is a great way for the people who are from these different countries to get to showcase and celebrate and kind of connect to their home and their culture a little bit while they’re here,” Tara Inman said.
The International Fair is a set up for students to teach and inform other students about their culture. At each table, there are facts about the country, the flag and popular foods and drinks.
“So there are tables set up all around the Johnson and students will go around table to table and talk to the different representatives from the countries,” Inman said.
For all of this to happen, students had to take time to prepare their stations. Some stands had games, food, drinks, posters and their countries’ flags.
“We had to make our posters with the facts about Nigeria and get culturally appropriate snacks and drinks to serve to students,” junior Tofarati Opaleye said.
From the visual setups, students were able to walk around with their friends to experience cultures firsthand.
“Darlington does the international fair to expose students to all the cultures that we have at Darlington,” junior Murray Ellington said.
Not only was the International Fair a great way for students to learn about different cultures, but also it was a great way for the boarding students and day students to interact and build relationships with each other.
“During the International Fair, I was able to tell my day students all about where I am from, which is Mexico,” Freshman Paloma Fernandez Diaz said.
The International fair is a tradition that the school should continue to do because students enjoy spending time with their friends learning about traditions from other cultures.
“I know that people had a good time and I think I would do it again,” freshman Paloma Fernandez said.
Not only were students excited about this year’s International Fair, but next year a new addition will be added to the International Fair.
“The turnout was great, we had a lot of participation. Next year we are adding a community art project within the fair, to encourage more participation and build more excitement around the fair,” Ellington said.