Mid-Ohio Multi-Cultural Festival kicks off opening night
Festival visitors danced in front of the main stage while Lady D and the Mission played Friday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival in City Park. The festival continues through Sunday. (Photo by James Dobbs)
The Philippines Best Food truck was only one of the many unique cultural food vendors at the Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival in City Park. (Photo by James Dobbs)
Vance Hewitt, right, taught Neva Bryant how to make clay pottery at the Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival in City Park. (Photo by James Dobbs)
Aaron Clubb, owner of Pappy’s Lip Smackin’ BBQ, cut into some barbeque behind their stand at the Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival in City Park. (Photo by James Dobbs)
Festival visitors danced in front of the main stage while Lady D and the Mission played Friday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival in City Park. The festival continues through Sunday. (Photo by James Dobbs)
The Philippines Best Food truck was only one of the many unique cultural food vendors at the Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival in City Park. (Photo by James Dobbs)
Vance Hewitt, right, taught Neva Bryant how to make clay pottery at the Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival in City Park. (Photo by James Dobbs)
Aaron Clubb, owner of Pappy’s Lip Smackin’ BBQ, cut into some barbeque behind their stand at the Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival in City Park. (Photo by James Dobbs)
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PARKERSBURG -- The 25th Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival kicked off Friday evening at City Park in Parkersburg with music, food and other attractions.
The sweet and salty aroma of kettle corn filled the air Friday evening as the groovy sounds of Lady D and the Mission brought attendees to their feet.
The festival, which will continue until 4 p.m. Sunday, offers different genres of music, a multitude of cultural food vendors, booths to shop at and activities for all. Admission is free to the festival, which runs from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
Beatrice Corra, volunteer and one of the founders of the festival, said it is important because it helps kids experience diversity at a young age. Corra said West Virginia is not as diverse a state as some and the festival helps bring culture to the area.
"That's one of the things we want to do, bring exposure to other cultures," she said.
Corra said one of her favorite things about the festival is all of the delicious food. She suggested trying the Star of India, Philippines Best Food, Pappy's Lip Smackin' BBQ, Rubi's Pizza & Grill or going to the lemonade stand for some freshly squeezed lemonade.
"It's hard to eat your way all the way through the festival," she said, laughing.
Corra said there will be plenty of different genres of music playing throughout the weekend and that there would be a belly dancing group performing today.
Vance Hewitt, who works with the clay lab in the Parkersburg Art Center, brought a clay wheel to the festival to show others how clay pottery was originally made. He said kids love to watch as he molds a piece of clay into pottery. Hewitt has been attending the festival since 2014. He said he really appreciates the amount of diversity it brings to Parkersburg.
"The diversity, the people, I like to watch the people," he said, explaining what he likes about the festival. "It's a free event for the community and brings out an array of people."
Aaron Clubb, owner of Pappy's Lip Smackin' BBQ, said he has been participating with festival since 2002. He said his father-in-law, Eugene Donaway, was one of the founders of the festival. He said he enjoys the festival because of how inclusive it is.
"It brings a lot of people to try different things, all in one place," he said.
Clubb said he has served on the festival committee in the past but now mainly comes to the festival to "show people my good tasting barbecue."
The weekend schedule includes:
SATURDAY
* 11 a.m.: High Schools that rock
* 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Children's Art Workshop (Pavilion)
* 11 a.m.-8 p.m.: Foam Garage (admission $5 for three hours, $8 all day)
* 11 a.m.-9 p.m.: Parkersburg/Wood County Library Bookmobile
* Noon: Ugata (African Drums)
* 1 p.m.: S.H.Kang's Tae Kwon Do (Martial Arts)
* 1:30 p.m.: Pipes & Drums of St. Andrew
* 2 p.m.: Fairie May (Irish/Scottish Musicians)
* 3 p.m.: Jensuya Belly Dance (Turkish Belly Dance)
* 4 p.m.: Henry Kitchen & Young Jazz with Matt James
* 5 p.m.: Kritya Ensemble (East Indian Dance)
* 6 p.m.: Tom Carroll (Jazz)
* 7 p.m.: Sidewalk Shows – Fire Performance
* 8 p.m.; Grupo Fuego (Latin)
SUNDAY
* Noon: Interfaith Prayer
* 12:30 p.m.: Kritya Ensemble (East Indian dance)
* 1-4 p.m.: Children's Art Workshop (Pavilion)
* 1:30 p.m.: Roxana Havaii (Persian Dance)
* 1:45 p.m.: Steve Free (Native American Singer)
* 2:45 p.m.: Roxana Havaii (Persian Dance)
* 3 p.m.: BackPorch Alibi (American Band)
James Dobbs can be reached at jdobbs@newsandsentinel.com