People were not at the Ethnic Festival 2002 just for the food or just for the entertainment -- they were there to experience all of it.

Vern and Dean Paschke, of Brownsdale, came to the festival to meet people from other cultures and to try new foods.

"We got to have some of the international foods today," Dean said as he ate a meat and chicken burrito with green tomatoes.

Dean said the festival is good for the area.

"We all need to understand each other better," Dean said. "This is a good opportunity for that."

Mary Jane Miller and her daughter Mariela came to the festival with her parents Mildred and Archie Baley. She grew up in Austin, but now lives in Poland. She and her parents decided to come because they like to experience other cultures.

"When I grew up in Austin it wasn't like this at all," Miller said. "It's nice to see more variety."

That variety was shown in the entertainment, food and crafts at the festival. All of the food vendors are from the Austin area and the foods ranged from Cuban to Mexican to Vietnamese.

Mariachi Serenata started the entertainment on stage and the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers followed them with Appalachian music and dancing.

Nana K. Arafi III brought Ghanan crafts and jewelry from his store at the Northtown Mall in Blaine. Arafi came to the festival last year and the Welcome Center had asked him back this year.

"I like to meet people of different cultures," he said.

Children enjoyed the games and face painting at the Noon Kiwanis tent. This was the first time the Kiwanis had participated in the event.

"We want to be supportive of the Spanish community," said Jerry Mohrfeld, chairman of the Ethnic Festival project for the Noon Kiwanis.

In the morning Pachuca beat Atletico Latino 3-0 in the soccer match.

"It was a good game," said Pablo Juarez, a member of the Pachuca team.

Liliana Silvestry-Neilon said she was pleased with this year's event.

"The turnout is great. The weather is great, great food, great music," Silvestry-Neilon said. "And the community coming together, it doesn't matter where anyone is from, they're coming to together to have a good time. That's what we expect."

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com