Hickory – Catawba Valley Community College’s Office of Multicultural Affairs will host a Celebration of Nations Sat., September 8 on the college’s front lawn (U.S. Hwy. 70 in Hickory) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Free and open to the public, groups share their cultural heritage at the event through dance, crafts, music and historical artifacts.

Hickory Police Department’s Honor Guard will open the ceremony, and the CVCC Choir will sing the National Anthem. A number of cultural dance groups are scheduled to perform. Betty Primus and The Traveling Tribe of Africa will demonstrate African dance. Raza Latina will perform Mexican dance.

Butterflies of the Highland and Secret Garden groups will perform Hmong Traditional Dance. The Lost Jewels of the Ghawazee will perform fusion Belly Dance. A local community Step Team will perform step dance.

Other special presentations include Chencho’s Dancing Horses and African Drum and Dance by Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble. Sponsored by BB&T, CVCC and the CVCC Foundation, Inc., the Celebration of Nations recognizes and celebrates all the cultures that make up the CVCC service area of Catawba and Alexander counties.

Individuals planning to attend the event who have a disability needing accommodations should contact CVCC’s Counselor for Students with Disabilities at least 72 hours in advance to allow time to arrange the services at 828-327-7000, ext. 4222, or [email protected]. For more information about CVCC’s Celebration of Nations, visit www.cvcc.edu/savethedate, or 828.327.7000 ext. 4578.

Photo: Celebration of Nations in 2017, the Hmong Dancers.