A Tradition of Connection: L&C’s International Fair Turns 60

For 60 years, Lewis & Clark’s International Fair has been a vibrant celebration of global cultures, and this year’s event was no exception. Beginning on February 24, and culminating in the community fair on March 1, the weeklong series of events featured food from around the world, cultural displays, lively performances, and a fashion show.

More than just an event, the International Fair creates meaningful exchanges between students, faculty, staff, and the local community. “This event is a reflection of Lewis & Clark’s deep commitment to international education,” says Brian White, associate dean of students and director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. “It’s always terrific to see students take the lead in bringing the world to our campus—through food, dance, fashion, and other shared experiences.”

Aadya Dixit BA ’27 is vice president of the International Students of Lewis & Clark (ISLC), the student group that runs the fair. She says it’s the sense of community that makes this event special to her. “The way people come together to celebrate is so welcoming … you just feel so happy. It’s a feeling that’s contagious!”

Food and Friendship

Aadya Dixit BA '27Food is always a central theme to the fair. “A big part of the International Fair in the past few years has been featuring dishes from different countries throughout the week leading up to the event,” says Dixit. Students enjoy these dishes with friends in Fields Dining Hall.

This year, the fair organizers selected 16 region chairs from 7 different geographical areas: Caribbean and Central America; East and Southeast Asia; Europe; the Middle East and North Africa; South America; South Asia; and Sub-Saharan Africa. The region chairs supply recipes for the Bon Appétit cooking staff to prepare.

“Students come together to bring flavors and recipes that are unique to their regions,” says Dixit. She adds that students worked on having “a more curated experience” this year. For example, students hosted cultural exchange events, like Kahoot! quiz games, relating to the region each dish represents.

A Showcase of Talent

The fair’s performances on Saturday are another highlight, bringing together international and American students to share cultural traditions. This year’s lineup featured salsa and rumba dancing, a traditional German dance, and Tinikling, a Philippine folk dance.

Many student groups and affinity unions participate annually in the fair, including the Chinese Club, which performed in this year’s fashion show.

Dixit says that organizers work hard “to make sure every region we can think of is represented.” This means reaching out to international and domestic students so that they all have a sense of community and belonging.

Traditions, Past and Present

With roughly 70 students involved, including about 50 performers, this year’s fair was a community effort. The planners of this year’s fair also spent over a semester putting together a visual history of the fair. They dug up articles and pictures from the Oregonian, the Mossy Log, and past fair events to create an archive that allowed alumni and students to reflect on the fair’s six-decade legacy.

Brian White, associate dean of students and director of the Office of International Students and ScholarsPast fairs were also honored in a unique way—t-shirts from previous years, donated by Brian White, were displayed along the railing in Fowler Hall as a nod to the event’s long-standing tradition. White has been part of planning these fairs for many years.

For Dixit and the rest of the organizers, the overarching goal was simple: to create a space where people could immerse themselves in different cultures, learn from each other, and leave with a sense of connection. She wanted attendees to walk away feeling joyful and inspired.

“I hope they had the feeling of really immersing themselves in another culture,” she says. “The fair is about belonging, and that’s something we all share—no matter where we’re from.”

International Fair International Students and Scholars