Every parking spot on Gingerbread Lane was taken, with cars spilling onto the grass as families arrived for the International Heritage Fair at the John M. Marshall Elementary School last Thursday. The sounds and smells coming from the gym and the cafeteria were not just international, but out of this world.
“The time that families and staff put into the Heritage Fair is truly extraordinary. Our community comes together to share performances, food, and cultural traditions from across the world. It is a night full of pride, joy, and connection,” said Karen Kuneth, the school principal. “A special thank-you to Michelle Taveras, the event chairperson, and Kevin Quinn and Alba Pettas, the emcees of the performances.”
Ms. Taveras did a yeowoman’s job organizing the event, which several families called their favorite of the school year. Students were greeted with passports they could fill out along the way, while parents were given recyclable tote bags resembling luggage, to carry swag.
The evening started with a martial arts demonstration, followed by singing and dancing and a tribute to the upcoming FIFA World Cup (whose final match will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 19).
From there, families received cardboard meal trays and lined up outside the cafeteria to sample foods from every country, cuisine, and culture imaginable — England, Ecuador, Germany, and Ireland, to name a few.
Sara Smith, the East Hampton High School principal, and her husband, Brian, hosted an Australian table honoring his heritage. His mother is from Perth, his father from Sydney. They taught children about the expression “G’day” and about Vegemite, a salty, slightly bitter, iconic Australian savory spread made from brewer’s yeast extract, vegetable additives, and spices.
They also handed out a more approachable treat: fairy bread-style lamington cake, a moist butter sponge dipped in chocolate and coated in coconut — said to be the cake sold at every suburban bakery and weekend fund-raiser in Australia.
Principal Kuneth summed up the evening perfectly: “Our annual Heritage Fair reflects the best of our community.”