By Kristina Betsworth

Experiencing other cultures doesn’t always require a passport or an expensive plane ticket. One local festival allows students to experience cultural diversity without traveling beyond their own community.

The second annual Fun in the Park event will take place on Saturday, the final day of UK’s 2010 Cultural Diversity Festival.

“It’s a culmination of a lot of events,” said Debra Ross, member of the Cultural Diversity Festival Committee. “Some put on by the committee and some from campus.”

Fun in the Park, sponsored by both the Cultural Diversity Festival Committee and the Lexington-Fayette- Urban County Government, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Woodland Park.

Fun in the Park wraps up the celebration of the festival, which began in February and has brought lectures, panels, performances and documentaries to UK.

“We’ve already had the ‘Taste of our World,’ which is our biggest event. It is in its 21st year,” Ross said.

Fun in the Park is open to anyone who is interested, not just UK students, and the event offers an opportunity to gather with others and celebrate the diversity in the local community, Ross said.

“We want anybody in the community, and of course UK students, faculty and staff. We want them to go as well,” Ross said. “Hopefully, they will meet people and make some new contacts.”

Ross, who has served on the Cultural Diversity Festival Committee for more than 10 years, said Fun in the Park will have games, booths, crafts and entertainment. She invited students to come play cornhole, visit local businesses’ stands, listen to music and enjoy free food provided by UK Dining Services.

“I think students will be exposed to different cultures because some of the entertainment will be diverse and culturally oriented,” Ross said. “Same with the booths.”

Ross believes attending Fun in the Park will make students more well-rounded  as they take part in the event’s unique activities.

“Hopefully it’s going to be a beautiful day.”