The beat of an African drum echoes against the storefronts on the Square as a crowd gathers to watch a long procession of world flags around Denton’s historic courthouse.

For the DRC/David Minton

Members of the University of North Texas African Ensemble dance during the opening ceremony of World Fest on the Square on Saturday in Denton.

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Each flag represents at least one international student at the University of North Texas, and there were 80 countries represented Saturday at the inaugural World Fest on the Square.

Students at the university represent about 125 countries, school officials said.

Several hundred people from the community and the university participated in the festival, which celebrated the diversity of cultures at the university and in Denton, said Jennifer Roglá, UNT international programs coordinator.

“UNT is really proud of the diversity on campus, and we wanted the international students to interact with the community and form new partnerships,” Roglá said. “This event promotes President [Gretchen] Bataille’s strategy to become an international university.”

The event was a win-win situation for international students and the community, as it gave them the opportunity to learn about each other’s cultures, Roglá said, and it also raised awareness of UNT to prospective students in the city.

The event gave the local community a chance to view the world as a global community, Bataille said.

“World Fest is an opportunity for us to come together and bind our histories,” she said.

For the DRC/David Minton

Participants wave the flags of their home countries in the Parade of Nations during the University of North Texas’ World Fest on the Square on Saturday in Denton.

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Mayor Mark Burroughs said he hopes international students decide to stay in Denton after college.

“Our job is to learn from this, and we have an opportunity not many people have,” Burroughs said. “It’s only with sharing back that we can learn and have fun with the experience.”

Perla McBeain of Shady Shores said she thought it was important for her 4-year-old daughter to see different perspectives from around the world and learn how to relate to others.

McBeain is from Mexico and her daughter has only lived in the United States, so they celebrate a mixed set of traditions in their home, McBeain said.

UNT student Alvaro Pereiro of Argentina said sharing his culture with the Denton community was “fantastic.”

Pereiro chose UNT after hearing from a private music instructor in his country that the university had an excellent music performance program, he said.

“I’m thankful to be here and celebrate diversity. I’m happy to share my culture with the Denton community and thankful I can carry the Argentine flag,” he said.

For the DRC/David Minton

Music professor Gideon Alorwoyie leads the University of North Texas African Ensemble at the front of the Parade of Nations during World Fest on the Square on Saturday in Denton.

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After sharing information on Argentine food and drink with one festival attendee, Pereiro played his violin for a dance — a tango.

The tango originated in Argentina and is important to his country, he said.

As Pereiro played his violin, his left hand produced a passionate vibrato trill, matching the movement of the dancers’ feet. And he smiled.

CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com.