The Festival of Nations is a school-wide event where all students come together to celebrate a wide range of traditions and cultures through food and performances. Being a pre-meal to get your stomach ready for Thanksgiving, this buffet-style setup that takes place at Marco Island Academy introduces new foods from all over the world to people and spreads cuisines from different countries around the world ranging from places in Asia all the way to Mexico.
Started by Mrs. Lori Galiana, known as “Mrs. G,” this event started humbly, originating as a simple classroom party. This event was born from the idea of having a multicultural festival, right before Thanksgiving break. The goal was to allow a diverse group of students to express their backgrounds through delicious food, while also having fun with their classmates. Although Festival of Nations was started by Mrs. G, it is now supported by all teachers, especially from the Humanities Department, as well as the History and Culture Club. Lola Green, a senior, exclaims that “I’m going to miss Mrs. G but I know it’s still going to be fun”
Not only is this a fun event, but it’s also educational. It provides students with a direct, hands-on way to explore the world through the gym of MIA while simultaneously connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences. Going on for 12 years, this event that has been moving strong for over a decade is such a success because the whole school gets involved. Not only students, but parents and teachers also help bring food and serve it to all recipients.
Drifting from the food component of this event, there are also performances that can be seen throughout the celebration. Right when students walk in, they are greeted by the Academy of Rock. In previous years, there have been brave students who either perform an Irish jig, a Spanish salsa, or pick up a microphone and sing a song, often related to their heritage. It is because of the high participation among students that this event is something to look forward to every year. Sammy Zocco, an expected performer this year and someone who sang last year, said that “I’m very excited to perform again this year, and last year’s support really motivated me to do it again.”
Though this year is bittersweet because Mrs. G has officially retired, the school hopes to continue the Festival of Nations with strength. Growing from a classroom get-together to a function where the entire school has some sort of participation, her powerful legacy will live on as students and staff keep working hard to celebrate culture and community before Thanksgiving break each year. Although she’s not physically present in the school every week, she will still be helping out with Festival of Nations this year and will be there for the actual event itself to see her favorite event of the year take place and be carried out by the students and staff.
