Melting PotLorain’s International Festival
How does one celebrate diversity and community at the same time? One way to pull it together is at the Lorain International Festival, which begins on June 21, 2010. Lorain’s annual International Festival is a one-of-a-kind festival that celebrates cultural diversity. During the week-long festivities, the people of this multi-cultured city will show off their traditions and keep them alive.
Lorain, the melting-pot city built by steel on the shores of Lake Erie between Cleveland and Toledo, is uniquely international, rooted in industry, and embraces Lake Erie living. Ohio’s 10th largest city, originally named Charleston, is a proud city that celebrates its people as its biggest asset.
When my family moved from Akron to Lorain, my schoolmates’ last names were often unpronounceable and their parents spoke foreign languages at home. It was the first time I encountered a diverse population of people whose forefathers had not been in America for the last 200 years. People made good money in the factories—US Steel, Ford, and American Shipbuilding; American Shipbuilding closed many years ago and Ford Motor Company’s Lorain Assembly Plant ceased operations at the end of 2005, but the US Steel integrated mill, now owned by Republic Steel, has been operating in south Lorain since 1895. The City of Lorain has had its troubles, but like its larger neighboring city, equally diverse Cleveland, it survives on the strength of its citizenry’s innovation.
Over 70 different nationalities live in the Lorain area. The high point of the summer has always been the International Festival with its international princesses and food booths selling everything from pierogies to gyros. This working-class city’s heart is revealed in their ability to throw a good party and bring together second and third generation Americans whose families settled in Lorain after arriving from Hungary, Ireland, and Puerto Rico.
The Lorain International Association was formed in 1967 to celebrate the cultures, diversity and community. While the event celebrates the diversity of the City of Lorain, it also celebrates the various cultures highlighted during the Festival. It attracts people from all over the Great Lakes Region who are interested in exploring their own family backgrounds or learn about people around the world.
Festivities begin with breakfast at DeLuca’s Place in the Park, a Lorain mainstay, and an evening of Hungarian music at Veteran’s Park on West Erie Avenue (Clevelanders may think of it as Lake Road). On Tue 6/22, enjoy songs of worship and praise of Lorain’s ethnic congregations and on Wed 6/23, delight in the dancing and folk music of Hungary at the Lorain Palace Theatre.A highlight of the week is the Princess Pageant, which takes place at the Palace on Thursday of that week. This is not just a beauty contest; the girls who participate were chosen to represent their nationalities and compete to be in the Queen’s Court during the Festival, and being chosen is as big an honor as being the high school Homecoming Queen.
What most people know as the International Festival is the Festival and Bazaar at Black River Landing over the weekend. Food vendors will serve ethnic food and live entertainment, souvenirs, and crafts highlight represented countries. The weekend winds down with the Lorain International Parade, which takes place on Sun 6/27 at 11:30AM.
Check out Lorain’s International Festival. It’s a family-friendly event that runs from June 21-27, with programs at Veteran’s Park, the Palace Theatre, and Black River Landing. More information can be found at http://www.loraininternational.com.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia Taller, whose passion for words has led to creation of the Lakeside Word Lover’s Retreats, an outgrowth of her work with Skyline Writers.
Her favorite foods are red wine, salmon, ice cream, and chocolate. She loves to read, write, tour wineries, ride her bike, ease into yoga, and cook gourmet meals for friends. Find her at http://www.claudiatallermusings.blogspot.com.
One Response to “Melting Pot: Lorain’s International Festival”
peggy mathna
My father began this festival when he was mayor of Lorain. They had nearly 100,000 people living there and virtually no unemployment. Thew Shovel, America Gypsum company, Am.Ship, US Steel, Ford assembly. Nordson,and many small machine and mfg. Companies…most closed as a result of NAFTA and harmful trade legislation.