Article written by Tom Markland and published in The Journal on May 5, 2026.
MARTINSBURG - Food, music and hands-on activities from around the world filled War Memorial Park on Saturday as Berkeley County Schools hosted its first Multicultural Festival, drawing families, students and community groups for an afternoon centered on diversity and education.
The event featured booths representing a variety of cultures, with local school clubs and organizations offering interactive games, crafts and information designed to highlight traditions from across the globe.
Organizers said the idea for the festival began earlier this school year as a collaboration among educators looking to expand cultural awareness beyond the classroom.
“At the beginning of the school year, we were talking about ways to get students more involved and excited about languages,” said Erin Peralta, a world languages at Musselman High School. “That grew into connecting with other schools and groups across the county, and it just kept building into what you see here today.”
Participants included student organizations such as diversity clubs and language honor societies from multiple high schools, as well as community outreach groups. Many booths invited attendees to engage directly, whether by creating crafts tied to specific cultures or learning basic phrases in different languages.
The festival’s broader goal, Peralta said, is to help students better understand the world around them.
“When students learn about people from different backgrounds, they become more empathetic and more curious,” Peralta said. “Celebrating those differences helps everyone feel valued, and that brings people together.”
Families moved between tables sampling international foods, watching performances and participating in activities designed for all ages. Children tried new games while parents spoke with representatives from local organizations about educational opportunities and community resources.
Peralta said she was especially encouraged by the turnout for a first-time event.
“That was the thing I was most nervous about,” Peralta said. “When you put this much work into something, you hope people will come out and enjoy it. Seeing the crowd today has been really rewarding.”
Beyond entertainment, the festival also aimed to spark longer-term interest in cultural and language education among students.
“I hope kids walk away thinking this was fun,” Peralta said. “Maybe that leads them to take a language class or explore other cultures more deeply in the future.”
With a strong showing from the community and positive feedback from attendees, organizers said they are already planning to make the Multicultural Festival an annual event in Berkeley County.
“This is something we definitely want to continue,” Peralta said. “It’s a great way to bring people together and celebrate what makes our community unique.”