IFair 2025: Whispers of the World

Last Thursday, February 27, chatter filled the main gym as hundreds of students packed themselves into Conant’s International Fair (IFair), hosted by the Cultural Awareness Club. Massive posters of every color adorned the bleachers as students created a semicircle around the dancers at the far end of the gym.

A lot of effort and energy goes into making sure IFair runs smoothly. Teachers prepare to have many students out of their classes, maintenance staff prepare to frequently clear out garbage bags in the main gym, and students start preparing their contributions as early as the beginning of the school year, but efforts intensify during the early months of second semester.

“My favorite part is watching [the students] prepare the week before and the day of how excited and enthusiastic the kids are,” Amy Spizzirri, Social Studies teacher and Head Sponsor of Cultural Awareness Cub, said. “I love the excitement and energy that comes with taking ownership of who they are.”

Some student participants run booths that feature poster boards with fun facts about their culture’s traditions, foods, and/or activities. Approximately two dozen different booths were featured at this year’s Ifair, demonstrating how diverse Conant’s student body is while inspiring others to represent their own culture. “Last year, we didn’t see a Korean stand, so we decided to do one this year,” Lizzy Kim, ‘26, said.

These booths often also feature traditional dishes or snacks. In order to prepare, some students like Samantha Arnold who represented Germany, ‘25, spent hours baking traditional treats to represent their country. “I made over 6 dozen Spitzbuben cookies.”

Neal Mehrotra ‘25 performs a Micheal Jackson-inspired dance at the 2025 IFair

Other students perform cultural dances or songs, which are also a part of IFair’s night show. These acts provide students with a creative outlet to show off their traditions and skills in front of their peers. Performer Neal Mehrotra, ‘25, said “I get to dance a lot of places but this is the only place I get to dance around my home crowd at Conant… It makes me proud.”

IFair is more than just a fun event, it’s also an important way Conant embraces cultural diversity

One of the emcees, Hriday Kamdar, ‘25, said, “Ifair is one way that we can increase inclusivity and make Conant feel more like a safe place. [At Ifair] we can highlight things we value and show things we love to people.”

Glancing over his shoulder at the performers, Kamdar added, “My favorite part of Ifair is seeing multiple cultures come together and celebrate each other rather than just celebrating themselves.”

Missed this year’s IFair performances? See this video recap compiled by reporter Alexa Orlowski.

If you’re interested in getting involved with next year’s Ifair or Cultural Awareness Club, reach out to Spizzirri, at [email protected].

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