According to festival chairperson Thi Nguyen, this year's event featured foods and cuisine from more than a dozen different countries.

"We have food from Vietnam, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Ecuador, Ethiopia, India, Laos, Philippines, Australia, Italy, Lithuania, Brazil and even American BBQ, hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza," she said. "For example, the Mexico booth is doing a variety of tacos and Mexican desserts. Philippines are preparing rice, pancit and chicken and pork adobo."

"All the foods are very authentic because they are prepared by persons from those countries. Even ... Father Adilso and ... Father Johnni are preparing Brazilian sausages on the grill," Nguyen said. "There are nuns from the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul who reside and serve at nearby All Saints Church in Lake Wylie."

Sister Ginsy Simon, SCV, and her fellow sisters helped and supported the International Festival with a selection of Indian foods and desserts.

"We have vegetables, fried rice and chicken curry," Sister Ginsy said. "We even have vermicelli."

Additionally, there were various booths staffed by local community and health organizations.

Oratorian Father Adilso Coelho is the administrator of the Rock Hill parish. He is originally from the coastal state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. He explained the origins of the festival.

"When I first arrived at St. Anne as a new priest, we invited the different countries represented at our Spanish Mass to share their food, music, traditions and culture. It was held on a Sunday afternoon in the school gym, and it was a wonderful success." 

He said that afterward, the parish council came to him with a "beautiful idea. Why not invite all the different cultures and ethnic communities of St. Anne to participate?"

"That was really the birth of the International Festival," Father Coelho said. "Twenty-five years later, it is amazing to see what the [it] has become. What started as a small celebration in the school gym has grown into a major community event that brings together not only St. Anne parishioners, but people from throughout Rock Hill and the surrounding area."

Nguyen said proudly that this is her 10th year as chair of the event.

"The success of the festival is dependent on the hard work and coordination of a team of volunteers working on a variety of teams including marketing, public relations, setup, food, decorations along with games and fun zone for the kids," she said.

Gavin Peck, age 6, is a first-grader at St. Anne School.

"I played in the big foam pit," he said. "I had soap and foam all over me. But that's not all, I ate lots of food from the Philippines, Vietnam and Laos. I even had noodles from China, too!"

A variety of individuals and local businesses sponsor the event, including OTS Media Group, First Citizens Bank, 1852 Financial Group, Palmetto Funeral Group and Knights of Columbus St. Anne-Oratory Council 6756.

Grand Knight Jack Bray led a team of KofC members in volunteering at St. Anne.

"We have about 15-20 Knights serving beverages and food. This is a great way for fellowship and for Knights to get together and have some fun, as well as supporting our parish and our priests," Bray said.

Nguyen estimated that over 7,500 people attended the 25th year of the International Festival, and 100% of this year's proceeds of nearly $85,000 will benefit local charities and organizations, including St. Anne School, Pilgrim's Inn, Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Children's Attention Home, and the Crisis Pregnancy Center.

• Visit the parish at saintannerockhill.org.