Community | Events | FeaturedNovember 07, 2025

Culture Fest: An Annual Tradition Returns

Written By: Ian Silvester

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith has celebrated its students’ diverse cultural groups during International Education Week for over a decade. The tradition continues this year with Culture Fest 2025. 

International Education Week, Nov. 17-21, is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education and celebrates international exchange and education. UAFS will mark the week with a full slate of events, kicked off with Culture Fest at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, in the Recreation and Wellness Center (RAWC). More than 20 countries and cultural groups will be represented during the event. 

“We celebrate this event because we believe that providing intercultural exchange opportunities for our students is an important part of their education," said Noah Schmidt, international student programs and services administrator. 

Schmidt works with students from more than 25 countries. In a recent interview, he said UAFS benefits from having international students because they “help to diversify campus in different ways.” 

New this year to Culture Fest 2025 will be a line dancing performance by the W3C Line Dancers of Fort Smith.  

Schmidt said Culture Fest 2025 will be a collaboration between the UAFS Office of International Relations and the cultural Registered Student Organizations, such as the Japan Club, Vietnamese Student Association, Hmong Student Association, Filipino Student Association, and others. 

“People can expect to learn about the many countries and cultural groups that make up the Fort Smith community,” Schmidt said. “Culture Fest represents a low-stakes and low-risk way for students to begin learning how to navigate cultural differences and reaffirms our commitment to making UAFS a place where people of all cultures are welcome.” 

A complete list of events is below: 

Monday, Nov. 17: 

• Culture Fest 2025, 6-8 p.m. at the RAWC 

Tuesday, Nov. 18: 

• Study Abroad and Fulbright Information Booth, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, Breezeway 

Wednesday, Nov. 19: 

• International Poetry Night, 6-7:30 p.m., Boreham Library, 122 

Thursday, Nov. 20: 

• Multicultural Karaoke Party and Potluck, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Business and Industrial Institute, 102 (Latture Conference Room) 

• Tags:
• International Education Week
• International Students
• Culture Fest