On Feb. 3, Briar Woods hosted its annual Multicultural Fair. Like the previous years, the fair was a major success. Not only does it provide students the opportunity to learn more about other cultures, but it also allows students to share their own culture with the faculty and student body of Briar Woods. Thus, the Multicultural Fair has become one of the most attended events throughout the year.
Of course, in order for such a large fair to take place, many students have to sign up and dedicate their free time to create the intricate and exciting tables at the fair. Aimee Lam, a junior at Briar, helped run the MSA (Muslim Student Association) table at the fair, and found the experience to be worth the work.
“For [my] table, we chose MSA because Islam is a cultural thing as well,” says Lam, “So we just wanted to share [with] everyone what our culture is and how it brings everyone together.”
To represent their culture, Lam and her team chose different foods and drinks that hold cultural significance.
“We chose dates [the food] first, because that’s what Muslims break their fast with,” explains Lam, “Then also a cultural drink, which [was] rose milk.”
For some students, sharing their culture can feel like they get to share a key piece of their identity. Lam explains this feeling, saying, “Most of the time you just walk down the halls and we don’t really know what’s happening behind the scenes. Everyone’s lives are so different and that’s shaped by their culture.”
On the other side, Julia Peterson, a sophomore at Briar Woods, went to the Multicultural Fair as an attendee. After attending both last year and this year’s fairs, Peterson has deemed the 2025 Multicultural fair to have been a success.
“It was even more fun than last year’s because even more cultures were represented and the food was delicious,” says Peterson.
Both Lam and Peterson can agree about the importance of the fair on the student body.
“I loved the food and being able to interact with and ask questions to the people running the tables,” explains Peterson, “It is important because it helps inform people about different cultures and traditions.”
Whether students were running the tables or experiencing the fair as an attendee, everyone was able to enjoy the fair, albeit in different ways. As Briar Woods waits for the next Multicultural fair to roll around, one can’t help but get excited to think about what beautiful tables, delicious foods, and fun activities are in store.
Photo credits to Aimee Lam, Zain Siddiqui, Ameena Chowdhury, Alanis Gracia, and Sofia Burbano.
