Attendees of the popular OneWorld Multicultural Festival are greeted by the display of 110 international flags before they even walk through the event's doors.

For Cherry Fernandez, it sums up why she helps organize the celebration of culture in Penticton every year.

"Each of those flags represented someone that lives here," said the executive director of the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS). "We purchase flags of every client that comes from another country so that we can see visually the diversity that we have."

Fernandez 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” and more than 2,000 other people 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” walked by the flags on Saturday, Feb. 22, as the 12th annual edition of the event took over the Lakeside Resort.

"We've surpassed our record for attendance this year," she said. "Just within the 10 minutes of the festival, 500 people walked in, that's when I knew we would."

The festival, open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., was headlined by international cuisine and live entertainment.

More than 35 countries were represented at the festival itself, through either food, dance, music, or the dozens of vendors open for business.

"It's a beautiful feast for the senses," Fernandez said. "These events are wonderful because they bring people together, and show that we're stronger like that."

This year's event was dedicated to the late Penticton Indian Band Elder Grace Greyeyes, who was "instrumental in fostering relationships that built bridges across cultures," SOICS said.

Greyeyes, who died in 2023, opened every OneWorld Festival with a prayer and welcome.

Performances that honoured Japanese and Scottish cultures, among several others, also took over the venue's main entertainment stage.

"People are looking for that opportunity to create community and connect with other people," Fernandez said. "It's been quite a success today, and we're excited for that."