See!

Each year thousands of people from the Midlands and around the globe come to the Cantey Building at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds to enjoy the festivities. Nearly 100 nations have been represented, as people from around the world march with their flags, prepare traditional dishes, dance and sing with enthusiasm, and present artifacts from all corners of the earth! The annual Columbia International Festival is a three-day showcase of everything that makes South Carolina a world-class place to be!  
 

The National Exhibit section features booths from up to 50 countries. Guests can visit exhibits from places like Spain, Cameroon, France, El Salvador, Greece, Poland, India, Germany, and Panama, meeting people from all over the world. They can get a close-up look at Central American costumes, or talk to Europeans about what to see on their next dream vacation. Exhibits feature one-of-a-kind artifacts, beautiful clothing, and authentic memorabilia which you won’t see anywhere else in the Midlands!

Saturday morning, the celebration opens to adults with a parade of nations featuring up to 100 flags from around the globe. Many of the participants are dressed in national attire, proudly carrying their own flag in procession.

   Thai lady dressed  in a
   traditional outfit proudly
   displays her national flag.

Mexican beauty with the national flag.

Many nations are also represented in the festival’s International Marketplace, where guests can purchase clothing, souvenirs, and special cooking ingredients from around the globe. The International Business Expo features a number of businesses which have helped make South Carolina a national leader in export-related jobs and in the number of Americans employed by foreign-owned companies. Columbia’s growing and well-supported International Festival is an important part of South Carolina’s welcome mat to the international investors who play a large part in the economic strength of our state.