Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

A multicultural festival held in Penticton Saturday had its best turn out ever.

Hundreds of people representing different cultures from all over the world showed up for the OneWorld festival held by South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services, SOICS, at the Penticton Lakeside Resort.

"This is our fourth and the purpose is to celebrate diversity in the South Okanagan Similkameen region," said Tahira Saeed with SOICS. "And there are more than 25 cultures represented today."

SOICS started the event four years ago with a provincial grant, re-branding it OneWorld just to start something new.

Event highlights included food vendors, information booths, multicultural performances and international costumes on display.

It grows each year, with easily more than 1,000 in attendance, Saturday.

"Our client base is growing and our services are getting bigger, with all of our food vendors being clients," said Saeed. 

Food vendors and people representing different clubs in the South Okanagan said they were happy to be a part of it.

"It's so exciting to see all the different food and clothing,"  said Rajwinder Dhillon, who was selling jewelry, makeup and clothing.

Ann Doyon, with the En'owkin Centre on the Penticton Indian Band reserve, said she was there to share information about their culture and how beautiful it is.

"It is being very well received because there are a lot of curious people," she said. "And it's good to build bridges in the community."

Fernanda Ganhao, president of the Okanagan Portuguese Club, had pictures of people who founded the club on display as well as musical instruments and other old photographs.

"I think it's really important to have this event every year, because it's so important to get all the cultures together working toward unity with the world right now going different routes," she said.

Fellow club member Almira Nunes said an event like this offers residents the opportunity to learn where people come from and use that to bring cultures together going forward.

"I think at this time Canada is the best example in the world of this," she said.

Food vendors offered up a taste of Korea, French crepes to support a field trip for grade 8 students from Ecole Entre Lacs, Syrian food and more.

Oubyda Al Hamwi and his family, from Syria, served food from the region where they once lived.

"I like everything about this," he said. "There are a lot of nice people and a lot to see."