Upstate International Month Celebrates World Cultures Right Here At Home
February 23, 2015
GREENVILLE, SC – Upstate International’s 2015 celebration features nearly 100 public events, including colorful international festivals, world-renowned arts performances, global education programs, and opportunities to experience exciting sports, music, culture and culinary creations from around the world. This thirty-one day March celebration of world cultures begins with “The Ringing of the Bells” at noontime on March 1st when bell towers across the region announce the official opening of Upstate International Month. The bell-ringing tradition was inspired by Greenville’s sister city, Bergamo, Italy, where bells chime out 100 times to announce the symbolic closing of the gates of that ancient, walled city every evening.
Over 80 organizations across the Upstate, from Greenville/Spartanburg to Anderson and Abbeville, have partnered with Upstate International to present globally-themed community events such as the Millennium Drive Car Cruise and global auto exhibition (presented by CU-ICAR), Spartanburg Soaring international kite festival (sponsored by Partners for Active Learning, The City of Spartanburg, and the YMCA), Return To The Green Irish cultural festival (organized by The Irish Cara Club), Sabor a Mexico Mexican culture evening (hosted by AHAM – the Hispanic-American Women’s Association), and Upstate International Culinary Evening (presented by TipHive/The Bridge Business Consortium).
This year, the Peace Corps is also collaborating with The International Center of the Upstate for the first time. The Peace Corps will be offering a public movie event, Girl Rising, and video and coffee chats during the month. The Greenville County Library System is also hosting an enriching array of more than 20 new internationally-themed educational programs for all ages, and Clemson University will conduct the first annual Clemson Global Symposium with Oxford University, focusing on student global engagement.
In addition, The USC Upstate French and Francophone Film Festival, The Peace Center’s “Fairy Tales & Legends,” and a Clemson campus performance of “Swan Lake” by The Moscow City Ballet are all exciting, new arts events planned during Upstate International Month. Michelin has expanded its InTIREnational Art Contest this year to include 40 entries from schools, nonprofits, and the area’s art community to compete for two $5,000 prizes for the charity of their choice.
For sports enthusiasts, the Lucky Me Color 5k, International Soccer Tournament, and The Kroc Special Friends Tennis Expo will bring together talented regional athletes and professional athletes from around the world.
The International Center’s “A World Sensation Gala and Auction,” which will take place at the Westin Poinsett Hotel on February 27th, is a highly anticipated social event which draws hundreds of attendees from both inside and outside of the Upstate’s international community, and is the official kickoff event for the month. It serves as the Center’s annual fundraiser to support this region’s rapidly growing global education, business and community vibrancy programs. Detailed information and continual updates on all scheduled Upstate International Month events can be found at www.upstateinternational.org.
The primary 2015 sponsors of Upstate International Month include Michelin NA, Clemson University, Greenville Health System, BMW Manufacturing Company, University of South Carolina Upstate, Roedl & Partner and OurUpstateSC.info.
Launched through a public-private, business-non-profit, and educational partnership between Clemson University, Michelin NA and The International Center in 2013, the Upstate International program partners with hundreds of volunteers from across the region to host community programs and cultural events celebrating the Upstate’s rich cultural diversity and international business vitality. It is a program of The International Center of the Upstate.
About The International Center
The International Center of the Upstate is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization devoted to promoting cross-cultural understanding among local and international residents of the Upstate. The center is a regional leader in innovative international programs and events, and serves as an important community resource to people from more than 70 countries.
