Multicultural Halloween celebrates fall fun around the world

The dance troupe the “Spirit of the Pacific Islands” performed as Polynesian dancers at the 2010 Multicultural Halloween.

When Americans think of October, they think of jack-o’-lanterns, candy corn and witches. But people around the globe celebrate holidays in autumn, and Wright State University’s annual Multicultural Halloween is bringing the party to the Apollo Room on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Visitors will get the chance to learn about and experience fall festivities from all over the world, including:

•  Halloween in the United States and Canada

•  American Thanksgiving

•  African Kwanzaa

•  Asian Diwali

•  Chinese and Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival

•  Chusok, the Korean Thanksgiving

•  Japanese Bon

•  Nigerian Yam Festival

•  Mexican Day of the Dead

•  Native American Fall Harvest

Festivities will include ethnic foods, music, games and dance, as well as a costume contest, face painting and balloon sculptures. There will be live entertainment including dances from Ireland, Lebanon, Scotland, China and Greece. The evening will wind up with a spectacular French Cancan.

The 5:30−9 p.m. event will be held in the Student Union Apollo Room and is geared towards the university community, but also open to the public. The event is free to Wright State students, faculty and staff with university identification. Guests not affiliated with the university are asked to make a small donation.

For more details, visit the website http://www.wright.edu/admin/ahna/mhc or phone the sponsoring Asian/Hispanic/Native American Center at (937) 775-2798.