ETHNIC FEST BRINGS WORLD TO OAK BROOK

For Press Publications International Ethnic Fest, a celebration of ethnic diversity, brought the community of Oak Brook together at the Oak Brook Park District’s Bath and Tennis grounds Sunday afternoon.

While browsing many food and souvenir vendors, guests could observe people dressed in their ethnic costumes.

Adam Butler, grandson of Paul Butler, the founder of Oak Brook, was dressed in his Scottish attire, which included a kilt and a heavy claymore, a sword formerly used by Scottish Highlanders.

“It’s always a pleasure to get the community together... to spend some quality time and do a little celebrating,” Butler said.

Children dressed in authentic costumes from their native lands performed in front of crowds on the main stage. Among the many dances were a Philippine stick dance and a high-energy folk dance with barefooted dancers in orange and red costumes clapping sticks together.

Susan Santefort, who choreographed and coordinated the entertainment, said she appreciated the talents of all the young people.

“I’ve been enriched with their talents, and I’ve enjoyed working with all the diverse groups covering almost all of the continents,” she said.

Since its origination at Butler Junior High School in 1993 by several mothers, the festival has grown. The village of Oak Brook now sponsors the event so the entire community can gather together and be accommodated.

Coordinator Bonnie Sartore spent a year organizing the festival.

“It’s an event that has something for everyone. It is a true reflection of the diverse ethnic background which makes up this very young community of Oak Brook,” she said. “I think it’s a beautiful pageant. The authentic costumes, the music and the entertainment are really what pull the whole thing together, and the foods are an extra treat.”

Displays in the Club House offered cultural insights into different countries.

Naperville’s Joan Strzelecki’s Fibrecrafts display showed beautiful dolls. While in the process of attaching ethnic costumes to a doll’s “skeleton” or braided cotton twine, she said, “It’s interesting researching all the various costumes within a country.”

Dolls included a Mexican girl from the Oaxaca region and a Native-American girl from the Miami tribe, which once lived in Northern Illinois. Also displayed were Kerry cloaks with Celtic Irish motifs and cloths with colorful spiral patterns.

Raija Caseykc, from Lapland, taught people about Finland by displaying her personal collection of many arts, crafts, glassware and information from her native country.

“Finland is considered one of the most Americanized countries in Europe,” she said.

Kendra Goodnow of Westmont wore an 18th century ball gown with a frilly cap as she demonstrated the complicated art of Belgian lace-making. It takes an hour to create an inch of lace with the twisting and crossing of four bobbins along a bunch of specially arranged pins. Goodnow said the craft is traced back to Medieval times. Final results included delicate ornaments, earrings and decorative laces.

Nelly Nagiub, who is from Beirut, shared information about her native country, Lebanon. Included in her display was information on how purple dye was discovered from the murex snail and how the alphabet was created by the Phoenicians and modified by the Greeks and Romans.

She explained that there is another side of Lebanon that includes culture, knowledge and historical artifacts from the region.

“I’m sharing everything I know with the American people about Lebanon and the Phoenicians,” she said. “This is the most beautiful thing to do!”

While gazing at the Ukraine cultural table, decorative wood items encrusted with multiple colors caught people’s attention.

Bohdanna Domino, whose parents are from the Ukraine said, “It’s important to share your heritage and to know your heritage. We’re in such a time when there’s so much bridging between continents, and there’s so much trade between all the continents, that we need to be more internationally aware of customs.”

The Malaysian display impressed observers with information on the Petronas Tower Two. Towering at a height of 1,483 feet, Malaysia now claims to have the world’s tallest building. Running the display was Malini Patel, who is originally from Malaysia and has been in America for 17 years.

“We came to Oak Brook mainly because it was so cosmopolitan, and I think this really shows us that we have neighbors from all kinds of places,” she said.