5th Annual Winternational Embassy Showcase Draws Over 3,000 Visitors to the Ronald Reagan Building

The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center has been buzzing with celebrations of culture last month. On Dec. 7, over 3,000 visitors filled the Atrium at the 5th Winternational Embassy Showcase. Held annually at the Reagan Building, the one of a kind event brings together the international community and the DC community allowing guests to interact with ambassadors and diplomats to learn about different cultures and traditions from around the world. This year’s Winternational drew in a record crowd and participation from 37 embassies.

According to John Drew, President and CEO of Trade Center Management Associates (TCMA), the group that manages the Reagan Building, the event has come a long way in five years. 

“This is a far different event than when we started five years ago with five embassies and had 200 people in attendance. There’s nothing else going on in D.C. like this. This is a cultural showcase where people from Europe, Africa and the Middle East are all talking about what’s going on in their countries. And participants have an opportunity to mix and mingle with ambassadors and diplomats to learn about different cultures and traditions.” 

To start off the day’s program, Andrew Gelfuso, Vice President of TCMA, made opening remarks thanking each participating embassy as well as visitors for taking part in the signature event; ambassadors and officials from each embassy were invited to the stage for recognition, officially kicking off the day’s festivities. Throughout the event, the participating embassies showcased important aspects of their culture through vibrant and colorful display booths and guests had the opportunity to interact with each embassy through art, handmade crafts, food samples, traditional dress, travel and tourism information and more – all set against the backdrop of worldly musical stylings from renowned violinist, Rafael Javadov. Some of the activities and goods on display included rugs from Afghanistan, a henna station at Bangladesh, scarves from the Kyrgyz Republic, pearls from the Philippines, woven baskets from Rwanda and coffee from Panama.

Watch scenes from this year’s Winternational:

• Trade Center Management Associates
• The Washington Diplomat
• Washington Life Magazine
• The British School of Washington

• More Than 3,000 Visitors Participate In The 5th Annual Winternational Embassy Showcase – Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
• 5th Annual Embassy Showcase Welcomes Public to Attend – Jamie Wilkins, Patch.com
• Going Out Guide for the District of Columbia, Dec. 1-7, 2016 – Carrie Donovan, The Washington Post
• How To Eat Your Way Through D.C. This Week – Food Staff at DCist.com
• 2016 Winternational Festival Attracts A Record 37 Embassies – The Washington Diplomat
• Winternational Recap Video – NTDTV.com
• “Pearl Of The Orient” Shines At 5th Winternational – Embassy of the Philippines