The ongoing pandemic has turned Washington’s annual Winternational event into an online, year-round phenomenon.
The festival, co-sponsored by The Washington Diplomat and other partners, is now a virtual marketplace celebrating the D.C.’s diverse diplomatic community and its artisan diaspora.
From Czech crystal bowls and Eritrean gold bracelets to Haitian coffee and Peruvian alpaca scarves, a world of choices awaits those hoping to buy something exotic and different this holiday season. Not surprisingly, masks are suddenly the hottest items among a selection normally dominated by handicrafts, jewelry, apparel and culinary fare.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic has presented our communities with profound challenges, it also presented a unique opportunity to re-imagine our signature event and evolve our partnership with the world’s largest diplomatic community,” said Andrew Gelfuso, director of World Trade Center Washington DC (WTCDC).