YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - More than a dozen cultures were represented at Gray Avenue Middle School’s first Cultural Festival on Thursday, Sept. 18, drawing families, students and community members to campus for an evening of food, music and performances.

The event was organized by Assistant Principals Wallace Fullerton and Yesenia Leon, both in their second year at Gray Avenue. Fullerton helped curate booths and even served German currywurst in traditional lederhosen, while Leon was credited as the “workhorse” of the festival.

“All the booths here, these were all local families that we reached out to and connected with to see if they would be interested in presenting — some were staff, some were parents, some were just people who are local and wanted to be involved in the community,” Fullerton said.

Students pose in front of the Peru booth at Gray Avenue Middle School’s first Cultural Festival on Sept. 18 in Yuba City. The display featured food, flags and artwork representing Peruvian culture.

Leon added, “It was really a team effort. All the cultures that were represented at the festival, it’s because we had a kid with that background and a family with that background. Many of the parents there selling food made their traditional dishes from scratch.”

Booths showcased countries including Nepal, Peru, Japan, France, Germany, Mexico, Afghanistan, India, Panama and more. Families sampled food, enjoyed crafts such as piñata-making and face painting, and took part in hands-on cultural activities.

Cultural performances highlighted the evening, with entertainment ranging from Marysville’s Patria Insurgentes dance troupe to a Punjabi dance by students from River Valley High School. The program also included a Tongan dance and a performance by the Gray Avenue school orchestra.

“Other than the wind, I feel like it’s been pretty good,” said teacher Tessa Hanson, who hosted a Japanese booth after living in Japan for three years during her husband’s military service. “This is a lot more people than I expected it to be, so I’m very impressed.”

Gray Avenue Middle School Assistant Principal Wallace Fullerton, dressed in traditional German lederhosen, serves currywurst samples during the school’s first Cultural Festival on Sept. 18 in Yuba City. Fullerton helped organize the event, which highlighted foods, crafts and performances from more than a dozen cultures.

Proceeds from the event went back to individual classrooms and grades to support end-of-year activities. Organizers said the success of the festival sets the stage for future events, including the school’s annual Halloween festival, which will be held Oct. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. as a trunk-or-treat and classic car show, open to the public.

“At the end of the day, that’s what makes us strong — it’s about opening the doors for those connections to the community,” Leon said.

Event organizers also expressed gratitude to local businesses that supported the event, including The Taj, Casa Lupe, La Superior, Costa Vida, Marcello’s, Pizza Guys and Stevan’s. Guests and staff alike agreed that the festival was a success, with many saying they look forward to seeing it return next year.