ISM’s community International Day festival is April 27

Visit Brazil, Peru, Belgium, and South Korea without ever leaving Eden Prairie by attending the International School of Minnesota (ISM)’s upcoming international festival.

International Day 2024: Around the World in One Day is open to the public. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at ISM, located at 6385 Beach Road, Eden Prairie. Entrance and some activities are free, with food and additional activities available for purchase.

International Day is celebrated not only at ISM but also as an annual tradition at SABIS Schools, an international school network to which ISM belongs. These events celebrate culture through performances, food and immersive experiences.

Prima Sisinni, an ISM alumnus and the school’s current admissions director, said, “International Day has been a staple at ISM ever since I can remember. The opportunity to dive into cultures from around the world, see live performances, and eat amazing food keeps it on the top of my must-do list every year.”

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Sisinni said that as a student, her favorite part was “seeing all of the decorations in the classrooms and how they would come to life. As an adult and now employee, my favorite part is welcoming our local community in for a day of fun!”

This year ISM is highlighting five countries: the U.S., Peru, Brazil, South Korea, and Belgium. Each year the highlighted countries include one Spanish-speaking and one French-speaking country to promote the school’s language programs. Daily world language is taught by native speakers to ISM students in preschool through grade 12.

ISM’s event will feature an array of international food. ISM’s Executive Chef Ted Norris and his culinary team will create authentic flavors from Brazil, Belgium, Peru, South Korea, and the U.S.

Available foods will include aipim frito (yucca fries and sauces), Belgian street waffles, pollo de brasa (crispy roasted chicken), gogi-gui (Korean barbecue beef skewers on kimchi rice), and more.

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Performances will include vocal, instrumental, and dance performances from artists Ginga da Bahia, Mi Peru, Travis DeCory, and Cypher Side. There will also be a Parade of Nations, where ISM families are encouraged to dress up in clothing that represents their heritage. 

ISM faculty, staff, and students will also share language, literature, art, science, and history from around the world at interactive stations. There will be cool virtual reality experiences allowing people to visit each country using VR headsets.

Carlson’s Llovable Llamas will also have some of their adorable llamas on site for visitors to spend time with.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn, create, and fill up their International Day Passports for the chance to win prizes. Learn more about the event here.