As the doors to the Goffstown High School library open, the smell of warm food drifts down the hallways. Students pile into the room, gazing at the buffet before them, stretched out on three long, covered tables. A sign stands proudly at the beginning of the feast, announcing the  4th Annual Food Sampling, 10 a.m. When the clock strikes the next hour, they begin to grab plates, forming an eager line. Students pick and choose which new foods to try, and then, once done, slowly make their way back to class, sampling each and every new creation.

Each year, Goffstown High School holds a food sampling festival, where students of all grades get to taste different foods from different cultures around the world. The dishes-made by teachers, librarians, and support staff- ranged from soups, to rice, to mac n cheese. Mrs. Mannon, the school librarian, set up an informational board at the end of the buffet table, describing all of the different foods involved, how they’re made, which culture they’re present in, and the significance they have in that culture.

One student, Alice, says of the event, “I like free food and I like culture, I like learning about other people’s culture.” Other students seemed to agree, as the line to the food stretched significantly, some even going back for seconds. Another Goffstown student, Sarah, remarks: “everything that’s free tastes better.”

The food sampling tradition began at GHS four years ago, when Mrs. Mannon joined the staff. “I thought it’d be nice to share some of my holiday traditions, and introduce students to things they may not have seen before,” she says. Now, the festival is “usually the most popular program here,” with students always stopping by for the chance to try some of the new and interesting foods that are offered.

This year, the food sampling festival was very well received; at the very beginning of the event, the line was already almost thirty people long. In upcoming years, students can count on continuing to enjoy this sharing of culture; when asked if the high school will continue to host the food festival, Mrs. Mannon replies, quite enthusiastically: “yes!”