After 11 years, Cherry Fernandez says the OneWorld Festival has always managed to bring people together.

More than 35 countries were represented Saturday, Feb. 24, when the 11th annual edition of the multicultural event came to Penticton鈥檚 Lakeside Resort.

Organized by South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS), the festival featured food, live entertainment, and traditions all day long.

鈥淢y favourite part of the event is seeing everyone connecting with each other,鈥� said Fernandez, the executive director at SOICS. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about bringing people together.鈥�

Fernandez estimates more than 2,000 people attended Saturday鈥檚 event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There was food from Mexico, Japan and Thailand, and entertainment from Scotland and Columbia, among others. The event, Fernandez says, never misses the mark when it comes to celebrating diversity.

鈥淭his is such a beautiful place that brings us all together, and of course, don鈥檛 forget the food,鈥� the executive director added. 鈥淔ood is such a wonderful way to be together, bond and create those conversations.鈥�

Yuko Yoshii has attended the OneWorld Festival for several years. With Japanese cuisine ready to be served, the Penticton resident said she never gets tired of seeing people try new foods for the first time.

鈥淢eeting a lot of new people,鈥� Yoshii, who represented Penticton鈥檚 Japanese Kitchen Kura, said, when asked what her favourite part of the event was. 鈥淲e also love trying food from other countries, too. That鈥檚 the fun part.鈥�

Other festival highlights included the showing of SOICS students鈥� films, live music, dancing and a photo booth.

Fernandez says the festival has grown significantly since its inception more than a decade ago, with SOICS now serving clients from 110 countries and territories.

鈥淲e鈥檙e still growing and it鈥檚 wonderful to see so many people who want to be part of this,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely something to be celebrated.鈥�