Early rains did not keep more than 300 people from celebrating diversity with bands, food and activities Saturday at the 10th annual Whoopstock Unity Festival on the O.R. Simpson Drill Field.
Liz Schroeder, executive chair of the Whoopstock committee, said she expected less people because of the weather.
“It turned out better than we had anticipated,” said Schroeder, a sophomore business finance major.
Students and families tasted fajitas, played frisbee with toys from the Student Counseling Service and enjoyed tea with the Chinese Students Association while listening to bands such as Kenyah, an African rock band, the Texas A&M Gospel Choir and the Brazos Valley Jelly Bellies, a local belly dancing group.
Natalie Kuhn, who helped make beaded bracelets at the Aggie Allies booth, said the entertainment was better this year than in the past..
“There were more performances than last year,” said Kuhn, a senior genetics major, “and I liked the music a lot better this year.”
Eighteen multicultural organizations including, community vendors and artists, participated in activities such as face painting, sumo wrestling, sand art, henna tattoos and jewelry making.
Shirley Osadebe, a senior biochemistry major who was assisting Whoopstock staff collect surveys of those in attendance, said the response was generally positive.
“A lot of people loved the music and dancing and the food,” she said. “They said the atmosphere was great.”
Osadebe said some people were not clear about the purpose of Whoopstock, which is to “introduce, interact, and celebrate with all the cultures represented,” according to the Whoopstock Unitiy Festival press release.
Schroeder said she hopes Whoopstock will continue to grow in the future as well as continue to teach others about diversity.
Schroeder said the Whoopstock staff was pleased with tthe festival turnout.
“It’s just amazing to see 10 months of work come to life in one day,” she said. “I know we did the best we could.”