On Monday, March 3, 2025, the Concord-Carlisle High School cafeteria was transformed into a bustling global food fair as students, staff, and families gathered for the school’s annual Multicultural Food Festival. This mouthwatering event showcased the rich culinary traditions from all over the world, bringing the school community together over a shared love of food.
The event was made possible by the hard work of the students and faculty organizing it, including CCHS 12th grader, Hays Gardiner, who was the main student lead for the festival. “I have worked hard to plan the event for the past couple of months along with Sierra Fonte and other student government members,” Hays shares. His responsibilities included coordinating food contributions, advertising the event, reaching out to restaurants for donations, and ensuring everything ran smoothly on the day of the festival.
The festival featured a wide array of cuisines, with around 80 individuals––faculty, students, and families––bringing homemade dishes, alongside donations from 12 local restaurants. “This was probably our most successful year yet,” Hays notes. “As for attendance, we don’t charge for entry, so we can’t get the exact count, but I assume it was around 700-800 people, if not more.”
A Taste of Tradition
The festival featured an impressive spread of homemade dishes, each representing a unique cultural heritage. CCHS 11th grader, Maria Kielczewska, brought a traditional Polish dish called bigos, made from various chopped ingredients such as sauerkraut, pork, beef, and cabbage. Maria explains, “Bigos is one of the most popular Polish dishes, and it is also very unique. It has a very distinct taste, which might be strange at first for someone who is used to other cuisines.”
Of course, bigos was only one of the many scrumptious foods at the festival. Dishes like chorizo tacos, samosas, and steamed pork buns filled the tables, while desserts like cannolis, szarlotka, and Brazilian coconut cake provided the perfect sweet finish.
A Community United by Food
More than just a culinary showcase, the Multicultural Food Festival is a meaningful tradition at CCHS. “This event is the main reason I joined Class Government,” Hays expresses. “It is such an amazing representation of CCHS culture and diversity and brings together faculty, families, and students to share and learn about each other’s heritage through food. I believe this is Class Government’s most popular event for a reason––because food connects.” He emphasizes the significance of cultural expression, adding, “In a country where ethnicity and heritage can sometimes be divisive, being free to show self-expression and cultural identity is incredibly important.”
Maria echoes this idea as she reflects, “I think sharing food from your culture with others allows for connections. You are not only able to learn about someone else’s culture, but you are also creating a sense of community.”
Maria also shares how the festival helped her embrace her cultural background: “I remember when I first moved to the U.S., I was reluctant to share anything about my background. I was embarrassed that I was so different from everybody else, but this festival allowed me to embrace those differences and share them with others.”
Looking Ahead
As the festival continues to grow, Hays, now in his last year as a CCHS student, hopes it will remain a beloved tradition. “My main hope is that the festival continues to be such a large success and that new members of the CCHS community continue to share such a beautiful part of their cultural identity with everyone,” he remarks.
The Multicultural Food Festival is more than just a meal––it’s a celebration of the diversity that makes our school community so special. As we look forward to next year’s festival, let’s carry this spirit of openness and curiosity with us. After all, every bite is an opportunity to learn, connect, and grow.
