How to Plan and Communicate an International Night Event

International Night is the event where the school's stated commitment to celebrating diversity becomes visible in the most tangible way possible: families from every background in the school community sharing their food, music, art, and stories with their neighbors. It is also the event most likely to underrepresent the very communities it is designed to celebrate if the communication is not intentional.

Families from more established community groups often participate readily in International Night. Families from smaller, newer, or less prominent communities often need a more personal invitation and a clearer message that their contribution matters.

Start recruiting participants before promoting attendance

The quality of an International Night depends entirely on the diversity of families who participate. Before sending a broad event announcement, spend two to three weeks personally recruiting families from a wide range of cultural backgrounds to set up a table.

Identify community liaisons, bilingual staff members, or PTA members who have connections to specific cultural communities in the school and ask them to reach out personally. A personal ask in a family's home language is far more effective than a general newsletter invitation for reaching families who might otherwise assume the event is not designed for them.

Communicate what participation involves specifically

Families who want to participate need to know exactly what is expected. What does the school provide (tables, tablecloths, display boards)? What should participating families bring? Is food required or optional? What time do they need to arrive for setup? What time can they pack up?

A participating family communication that answers all of these questions removes the uncertainty that causes well-intentioned families to opt out at the last minute. Include a direct contact for questions.

Promote attendance broadly and enthusiastically

Once the participant list is confirmed and representative, promote attendance to all families with genuine enthusiasm. Share a preview of which countries and cultures will be represented. Describe what attendees can expect: what foods will be available, whether there will be performances, what the format of the evening will be.

A preview list of the cultures being represented tells families, and their children, who they will get to learn about. A child who knows their classmate's family from Ethiopia will be there is more excited to attend than one who received a generic event announcement.

Celebrate participants publicly before and after

Thank the families participating in International Night by name in the event announcement communication. After the event, send a post-event communication with photos and a recognition of each participating family and country represented.

This public recognition is important for the families who took the effort to prepare a display, cook traditional food, and share their culture with their community. It also demonstrates to families who did not participate this year that those who did were genuinely celebrated, which builds participation in future years.

Connect the event to the school's year-round cultural learning

International Night is most powerful as one piece of a year-round commitment to cultural celebration rather than as a standalone diversity event. In your communication, connect the evening to what students are learning in class about different cultures and global geography, and describe any follow-up activities planned in the weeks after the event that continue the learning.