Those yearning to travel and experience the cultures of the world can do just that, for free, on April 7. But leave your luggage and passport at home. Your destination: Lakes Middle School.

Come experience food, dancing, music, crafts, games and art from places like Ireland, Norway, Italy, Scotland, Sweden, Russia and the Philippines.

This will be the ninth year for the Lakes Annual Community Multicultural Faire, presented by Lakes and the Human Rights Education Institute. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 7, at Lakes Middle School, located at 930 N. 15th St. Admission is free, and there will be several booths selling food and drinks.

The stage will be set with performances by the Lakes Show Choir, CDA Youth Marimba band, Celtic music by Deep Roots, Spanish folk singer Gary Edwards, the Sorensen Drummers, and new this year will be Ethereal in E, a solo artist who plays soothing songs on a handpan.

Also new this year will be performances by Lake City Highland Dance.

Informational booths will be set up throughout the gymnasium, with some community resources in addition to cultural displays. An exchange student booth will be on hand, along with a suicide prevention booth by Sources of Strength. There will be cultural games presented by a group of Lakes social studies students to see and play. A world literature table will be set up with age-appropriate books and stories to enjoy.

“I have changed things up a bit to bring in more community resources, so we’re looking more at inclusion and stressing respect for all.” says Kirstin Odenthal, a sixth-grade teacher at Lakes, who has organized the event for the past five years.

She also explained that she has pushed to have more hands-on activities with the games and crafts for kids.

“We really want to promote a message of respect, inclusion and kindness to all, regardless of differences, and to get students and their families and members of the community together to have some fun,” said Odenthal. “I’m looking forward to it and I hope a lot of people come.”

I’m hopeful, because I feel like we are a pretty divided country these days, and hopefully this is a time to bring people together.”