CranFest will celebrate area's rich diversity
CRANBERRY TWP — For the past five years, people from different races, religions and ethnic backgrounds have come together to celebrate the area's diversity.
This year, the annual CranFest promises to be one of the largest and most inclusive to date.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6 at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center and is organized by the Cranberry Area Diversity Network. According to Gary Winterhalter, who co-founded the event with Charles Hawkins, the CranFest aims to help educate the community on the cultural differences that exist in the area, and why those differences make the area better.
“We want to help people experience the wonders of the different cultures we have ... and the advantages of having a diverse cultural community,” Winterhalter said.
The event will feature music, dancing, food and information booths from cultures around the world.
Stage presentations will run simultaneously in the gymnasium and the building's Town Square. Performers include dancers from the Philippines, Ireland, Bulgaria, China and India.
New additions this year are Kendo, a traditional Japanese martial art using bamboo swords, and Taiko, a Japanese drum ensemble.
Winterhalter said there will be about a dozen foods to try from vendors in the gym. The menu includes food from Hungary, India, Italy, Korea, Thailand, Pakistan, Columbia and the Philippines.
Booths offering information and keepsakes will set up shop in the building's corridors. Winterhalter said this allows attendees to learn about various cultures, religions and ethnicities through a conversation.
In addition to five religious groups, booths include genealogy groups and several school- and nationality-centered tables. Winterhalter added that representatives of the special needs and mental health coalition also will be on hand.
“Those are areas of diversity in our community and certainly people who need to be better understood and be more included in our community,” he said.
The event is free, as is parking behind the municipal center.
Winterhalter and Hawkins said the event has seen great support from the community, with more than 3,000 people attending last year. Winterhalter added that the relationship with the township has also been stellar, as officials have been supportive since the 1990s. Hawkins said that mindset is evident throughout the township and area.
“It is a very critical and important feature of the township,” he said of the area's diversity. “As we do this, I think people become more and more comfortable in the community. They realize how important they are, and the community becomes more and more welcoming and inclusive.”
Hawkins added that industry and business organizations coming into the area have noted that diversity played a part in attracting them.
WHAT:Fifth annual CranFest, organized by the Cranberry Area Diversity NetworkWHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6WHERE: Cranberry Township Municipal CenterNOTES: The event and parking are free
