For the third year, Lakes Region residents will have the opportunity to go on a virtual trip around the world at the Community Cultural Celebration.

The free event will be held on Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Lake Region High School.

Featured presenters include Barry Rodrigue, co-editor of the 2007 book, “Voyages: A Maine Franco-American Reader,” and Photographer Jan Pieter van Voorst van Beest, whose pictures can be found in “New Mainers: Portraits of our Immigrant Neighbors,” scheduled to come out this month.

On the main stage there will also be a belly dancer performance and a drum-o-rama, a participatory drumming event melding different styles and traditions. Organizers of the event will also announce essay contest winners, with the winner receiving a three-day trip to New York City, including a visit to the United Nations.

“Our purpose is to educate people about different cultures and how to relate to them,” said Mody Botros, who coordinated the event. “The ultimate goal is really world peace.”

Botros said Maine is actually quite a diverse state, with 65 different cultures represented. Fifteen of those cultures will be present at the celebration, which Botros expects will draw 400-750 people.

Throughout the day, presenters will teach about the traditions and culture of countries including Germany, Sudan, Columbia, Japan, West Africa and China. Others will make presentations on Tai Chi and Women’s History Month. Other countries will be represented with booths, and food will be available from a German restaurant.

All the presenters are from Maine, or are exchange students staying in the area this year, Botros said. Attendees to the celebration will receive a passport on entering and can get that passport stamped when they learn about different countries.

Tome Baseler was with the Finland delegation at last yearMrs. Hamilton and Janet Jones in Afghan dress at the second annual Community Cultural Celebration in 2008.