Travel the World ... From Horsham

On Sunday, Nellie Bly’s history-making trip around the world in 72 days will be outdone – by about 72 days.

In as little as three hours, locals can savor the tastes and sounds of the world, all without ever having to board a plane, train, or even leave the Horsham borders for that matter.

The Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation is offering its first-ever Culture Fest Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. at the .

A celebration of cultural diversity, the free event features food samplings from 15 area restaurants’ cultural cuisine, as well as music and dance and activities from various countries, educational exhibits, and vendors offering international items such as crafts, clothing and mementos.

“The board looks to provide help in having the community make connections,” HHEF Executive Director Laurie Rosard said. “Cultural diversity is one of the areas that we feel is important to make those connections.”

International flavors will abound with food offerings hailing from Mexico, India, Korea, Germany, Jamaica, Italy, Japan and Afghanistan. Samples will be available for purchase.

Seven professional international dance troupes and musicians will be on hand to supply entertainment throughout the event, Rosard said. Performers include: the Chinese American Woman’s Sisterhood Dance Group; International Folk Sounds, a folk dance orchestra that uses traditional instruments from around the globe; the Keystone Mountain Boys and the Lisa Kay Band performing bluegrass; and Casual Badger, an Irish folk band. The Elite Toma martial arts team also will perform, as will choral, dance and musical groups - including the “Strolling Strings” violinists - from Hatboro-Horsham School District elementary schools.

Hatboro-Horsham students will present various educational displays, hands-on crafts, murals and items for sale.

While Culture Fest itself is not an HHEF fundraiser, Rosard said the foundation hopes to sell 200 $100 raffle tickets for a grand prize trip to Italy and “other fabulous prizes,” including a weeklong trip to Utah; an HD TV; a computer and more.

Also at Culture Fest, HHEF will read the winning poems from a recent contest themed “Me, My Culture, My World.” HHEF student intern Kate Fox said 27 poems were submitted. Of those, winners will be chosen from three age groups: grade school, kindergarten to fifth-grade; middle/high school, sixth through12th-grades; and adult, age 18 and up. In addition to winning entries, poems reaching the final judging will be displayed at the event.

“It’s a true family event designed to provide fun and entertainment for all ages,” Rosard said.

For additional information about Culture Fest! visit HHEF’s Web site, www.hhef.org. or call 215-420-5261.