For the first time since its inception in 2016, Texas A&M University-Victoria is bringing its International Festival right in the heart of Victoria.

This year’s International Festival will take place on April 17 from 5:30-9 p.m. at DeLeon Plaza in downtown Victoria, offering community members an opportunity to experience a variety of cultures through food, games, performances and activities. The event is free and is open to the public.

Ana Laura Pineda

“Our desire is for the community and the City of Victoria to learn that we do have international students here,” said Ana Laura Pineda, A&M-Victoria director of International Programs. “And to open the window for the City of Victoria so that they can tour the world in a couple of hours with our international students.”

This year’s theme, “Play Games, Taste the World and Feel the Beat,” reflects a more interactive and experimental approach, Pineda said. Guests will be able to participate in games from various countries while learning about the history and origins of each activity. The theme is designed to blend cultural education with hands-on fun, allowing attendees to engage with traditions around the world, rather than just observe them, she said.

Food will once again be a central part of the festival experience, Pineda said. Booths will be run by international students to offer food representing the nations they are from, restoring a feature that has been especially popular in past festivals, she said. In addition, several local food trucks are scheduled to be a part of the event.

Cultural performances will also play a major role in the festival, Pineda said. Some of the performances planned for the event are the Indonesian Dancers group, members of MeliSamba, the Rusty Steins, student performances and more.

Accessibility for students is a key logistical consideration. Shuttle service is available for students who do not have access to cars, with shuttles scheduled to start running at 5 p.m. from Jaguar Hall and Jaguar Suites, Pineda said. The shuttles will loop approximately every 30 minutes until the event concludes.

Supporters for this year’s festival include Admissions & New Student Experience, Enrollment Management, the Office of Financial Aid, Student Involvement, Student Services, Student Records, the Student Government Association, Student Recruitment, Marketing & Communications, the College of Business and the College of Education & Health Professions.

Justina Oluwatomisin is no stranger to sharing her heritage with the campus and local community. She has been involved with assisting the International Festival since her freshman year. A public health major, she is now ready to do it one more time as an undergraduate student before her graduation this spring.

Justina Oluwatomisin

“I think the International Festival is my way of saying thank you to Victoria because it has helped me so much since I arrived in the United States,” Oluwatomisin said. “I just wanted to say thank you and also to give back to the community.”

As an international student, Oluwatomisin came to the United States from Nigeria in the winter of 2021. The transition to a new country was initially intimidating, she recalled. Everything from the physical scale of her new environment to the unfamiliar social norms and body language felt overwhelming, she said.

“But over time being on campus at A&M-Victoria, I’ve made so many friends that I would say they’re family,” Oluwatomisin said. “It was really hard at first, but now I’m getting used to the culture here while still maintaining who I am as a Nigerian.”

One of her main contributions for the festival this year will be partnering with the campus cafeteria staff to prepare a traditional Nigerian dish known as jollof rice, a well-known stable in her home country. The dish, made with richly seasoned rice and typically served with fried, marinated chicken, will be featured at the Nigeran booth, she said. During the festival, she will serve the dish and speak with guests about the dish’s cultural significance and how it reflects everyday life and celebration in Nigeria.

For her, the International Festival represents more than just a celebration, it is a bridge between international students and the broader community. A space where residents of Victoria can experience a world beyond their immediate surroundings and where international students can, in turn, give something back.

Through food, conversation and cultural displays, the festival creates opportunities for learning, growth and mutual understanding, she said, even for people who may never travel outside the United States.

“The first time I experienced the festival, it made me appreciate Victoria because the people appreciate other cultures, and I felt at home because I got to wear my traditional clothing,” Oluwatomisin said. “The light in people’s eyes when you explain new things to them, there are no words, it’s exciting.”