Cultural performers gather near the stage ahead of their performances during Gray Avenue Middle School’s Cultural Festival on Sept. 17 in Yuba City.

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Gray Avenue Middle School brought its Cultural Festival back for a second year Thursday, Sept. 17, filling the school courtyard with food, crafts and performances representing cultures from around the world.

More than two dozen booths were spread throughout the courtyard, offering foods representing Afghanistan, the Philippines, Italy, India, Mexico and more. Other stations gave visitors an opportunity to try cultural crafts and activities, including Tongan mat-making, Japanese figure painting, dreamcatcher weaving and henna tattoos.

A young attendee tries one of the games offered during Gray Avenue Middle School’s Cultural Festival on Sept. 17 in Yuba City.

Many of the booths were staffed by Gray Avenue students and their families, who prepared food and activities to share their cultures with the community. Local businesses also helped support the event by donating items, including rice and pizza. Attendees purchased tickets that could be exchanged for food samples, full plates and activities throughout the evening.

“Everybody kind of came together and donated a little bit of something to make this all happen,” said Jennifer Barron, president of the school’s parent club. “It’s great to see it growing and a good time for the kids, too, to share their culture.”

According to Barron and Gray Avenue Principal Kenneth Schaeffer, the festival also serves as a fundraiser for the school’s parent-teacher organization, with some of the proceeds designated to support individual grade levels.

Students paint figures inspired by Okinawan shisa, traditional guardian figures from Japan, during Gray Avenue Middle School’s Cultural Festival on Sept. 17 in Yuba City.

One of the highlights of the evening was a series of cultural performances, which drew families around the performance area throughout the night. The lineup included Hawaiian dancers, Hispanic folklórico dancing and student singers.

Now in its second year, the festival continues to give Gray Avenue families an opportunity to share their food, traditions and heritage while bringing students, parents and the surrounding community together on campus.