Tour the World at Cle's Cultural Festivals

Last week, I focused on many of the art festivals that take place during the warmer months in Northeast Ohio. This week, cultural festivals have my curiosity. They are many in number and permeate the immigrant-rich Cleveland summertime scene. Since culture is often tied to religion, they often begin within churches and spill onto the streets. Cultural festivals are reminiscent of European street fairs and bazaars, and they allow us to experience a different culture or explore our own heritage.

Here are just a handful of the great cultural festivals one might celebrate locally:

During Memorial Day weekend, the Greek Heritage Festival at Church of the Annunciation in Tremont is a favorite for dancing and partying – an event beckoned with honey-rich baklava, flavorful moussaka, and flaky spanakopita. If you happened to miss that, you won’t want to miss the St. Demetrios Greek Festival in Rocky River during the weekend of June 19, where folk dance performances and platefuls of Greek food take you to the Greek Isles. In mid-summer, St. Paul’s Grecian Festival in North Royalton (July 17-20), offers yet another celebration of Grecian heritage. http://www.saintdemetriosrr.org.

The British Isles are represented by a number of festivals. The Ohio Scottish Games, with demonstrations, food, art, music, and vendors, take over the Lorain County Fairgrounds on June 28. Last year, I enjoyed sipping a Guinness and eating boxty with bangers while wandering around tents rocked by Irish folk singers at the Irish Cultural Festival, which will be held the weekend of July 18 of this year. Geneva-on-the-Lake changes the feel of its carnival-atmosphere streets when it hosts the Celtic Feis, a Scottish and Irish commemoration from noon until midnight the weekend of August 23, with the food, entertainment, and art of two of the British Isles. http://www.ohioscottishgames.com.

Lorain’s International Festival, with ethnic vendors and costumed maidens from all representative countries of the multi-cultural city, will liven up Black River Landing during the weekend of June 27-29—it’s a true tour of the world. Anyone who grew up in Lorain knew girls who vied to win the status of Slovenian, Ukrainian, or German princess. The stage performances are authentic, and the food ranges from Puerto Rican to Korean and all the countries of Europe in between. http://www.loraininternational.com.

Asian culture is highlighted during the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival on July 5. The West Bank of the Flats is the place to watch dragon boats and learn about the Asian cultures of the Cleveland area. http://www.clevelanddragonboatfestival.com.

In mid-August, the Feast of the Assumption in Little Italy (August 14-17) will feel Old World Catholic in its location in Holy Rosary’s church yard. A walk through Little Italy reveals brick alleyways and balconies and gated gardens that evoke memories of ancient Roman towns while commemorating the Virgin Mary’s assumption into heaven. Frank Sinatra’s voice hovers over Mayfield Road while visitors sit at sidewalk tables sipping wine and eating cannoli or gelato. This annual event is a favorite amongst greater Clevelanders because the neighborhood has remained unchanged since its beginning when the residents worked at nearby Lakeview Cemetery. http://www.littleitalycleveland.com.

One of the other few communities which remains ethnic is Slavic Village, which holds its Slavic Village Harvest Festival on Fleet Avenue in August. Slavic Village attracts over 75,000 visitors annual to the historic “Warszawa” neighborhood, one of the largest Polish-American communities in the nation. Lolly the Trolley tours show off the “village,” but if you take the tour by foot you can take advantage of polka dancing and eat pierogies and kielbasa made the old-fashioned way. http://www.slavicvillage.org.

The St. Mary Romanian Festival at St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland’s West Park community will also be held in mid-August (the 15-17 of August). This is our opportunity to become immersed in the culture of Romania by sampling food and pastries, viewing artifacts, and buying souvenirs while surrounded by live entertainment. The church is at 3256 Warren Road. http://smroc.link2net.net.

Another notable on my “possibilities” calendar is the Egyptian Festival at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Seven Hills. The Copts, the native Christians of Egypt and direct descendants ancient Egyptians, arrived in the Cleveland area in 1968 and hold a festival open to all in August of each year. We have little exposure to Egypt in the Cleveland area, so this one has my curiosity roused.

The parade for the Black Culture International Parade and Festival assembles at 9AM on August 28 at Tri-C’s Metro Campus. It’s part of a festival recognizing the contributions of and educating the public about Black Culture. The festival starts at noon with music, art, and food, and continues until 11 that evening. http://www.jaculturetime.com.

More than Germans will be drinking beer at the Oktoberfest at the Berea Fairgrounds the last weekend in August. It’s also the weekend we will be saying good-bye to summer and its many festivals. But the Tremont Arts & Cultural Festival, known for its art, is also a celebration of the ethnicities of Tremont—it’s scheduled for mid-September. http://www.bereaoktoberfest.com/index.php.

And don't miss the announcement of the St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Food Festival and Bazaar; it's due to be announced on their website anytime now with a run in late September or early October. http://www.st-gregory-narek.org/events.html.

And these events only begin to scratch the surface. Take the time to be part of some cultural festivals this summer and travel without using the frequent flyer miles. The many cultures of Cleveland are one of the best reasons for living here.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia J. Taller ctallerwritesATwowway.com
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