URBANA — For two hours on Oct. 3, the Uni community joined together in a celebration of diversity and difference as the school hosted its third annual Cultural Fair.

The outdoor event was a huge success with hundreds of participants, including Uni students, parents, faculty, and even members of the University of Illinois community and local residents.

Highlighting the extravaganza were some 20 food and culture booths and 10 informational booths, all organized by students, parents, or friends of the school.

Besides treating themselves to culinary delights from around the world and learning about different cultures, participants also enjoyed an impressive range of entertainment, including Uni jazz musicians, the Alpha Phi Alpha step team, master drummer Mousa Bolokande from Guinea, Shaolin gongfu master Demitri Daniels, and Ugandan rapper Krukid.

Adventurous students danced in the street and even got henna tattoos, courtesy of Mehndi artist Zainab Susi.

During the fair, Gargoyle staffers were busy taking photographs and recording interviews. In this first of two photo essays, the OG looks at the many booths that made the fair such a success. In our second photo essay, we'll highlight the day's entertainment. Look for additional coverage as well, including stories about the fair itself and visiting writer Marc Aronson.

Photo essay edited by Gordon Ruan; Gargoyle photos by Sindha Agha, Katherine Allen, Hadley Hauser, Jason He, Revathi Maturi, Katy Metcalf, David Porreca, Chris Yoder.

Note: Click any photo to create your own slideshow.

Uni High's Cultural Fair '08 begins.

Students are ready to grab some treats.

One of the fair's many booths.

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies booth.

Latin American treats.

The Girly Culture booth.

Flags!

Artifacts from various cultures.

Cultural instruments on display

The fair also took place on Stoughton Street.

Subbies crowd around subfreshman history teacher Janet Morford and award-winning author Marc Aronson.

A student asks Aronson a question.

Math teacher Rachel Tyson manages her Hungarian booth.

Junior Alexx Engles puts the Japanese booth on display.

An overview of the fair.

Sophomore Amanda Hwu serves Taiwanese food.

Spanish teacher Jenna Finch at the Spanish booth.

Greek food and culture! The booth was managed by Uni parent Helen Cangellaris

Finch talks about Spanish culture.

Visiting author Marc Aronson makes a point.

Freshman Maia Gersten oversees the Jewish culture booth.

Sampling Jewish food.

Students crowd around to get delicious food.

Mehndi artist Zainab Susi paints a student's hand.

Almost done!

Students gather around to learn more about Mehndi styles.

A variety of hand designs.

Students enjoy the fair.

More student fun.

Balloons!

Happy times. Sophomore Celinda Davis and mom Rita Davis.

Hungry students keep coming.

Another view of the Jewish booth.

More balloons.

Junior Isaure Hostetter gets her hand painted.

Sophomore Margarita Mouschovias answers a question.

A very busy day.

Junior Daniel Cheng looks for a place to sit down.

A different view of students enjoying the food.

Subfreshman George Ruan and freshman Juan Chapa dig in.

Senior Lizzy Warner takes a break from the Girly Culture booth.

UNI HIGH'S THIRD ANNUAL CULTURAL FAIR AT A GLANCE

FOOD BOOTHS (20)

• African American
• Chinese
• Cultural Confusion — This is for all of us who have favorite dishes we would like to share but are not quite sure where they should or could be placed!
• Egyptian
• Ethiopian
• French
• Georgian
• German
• Girly Culture
• Greek
• Hungarian
• Indian
• Italian/Ukrainian
• Japanese
• Jewish
• Native American
• Serbian
• Spanish
• Taiwanese
• West Indian

INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS (10, some with food)

• American Deaf Culture and Sign Language
• Author and Book: Marc Aronson, "Race: A History Beyond Black and White"
• Center for African Studies
• Center for Global Studies
• Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
• Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
• Center for World Music
• European Union Center
• Geography
• Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies

ENTERTAINMENT

• Alpha Phi Alpha step team
• Krukid, rapper from Uganda, now living in Champaign
• Demitri Daniels, Shaolin gongfu master
• Mehndi artist Zainab Susi
• Mousa Bolakande, master drummer from Guinea; scholar in residence, World Music Center
• Uni Jazz Band 1 and Jazz Combo (Clement Dossin, Miguel Zamora-Mills, Aaron Wilson)