1992 Caribbean celebration vibrates to the rhythm of the steel drums Photo: Kevin Sommers
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Middfest International
Held annually in Middletown, Ohio, Middfest
celebrates international arts, history, culture, sports and food
with emphasis on a different nation or region each year. It began
in 1978 as a generic community festival, but in 1980 the
celebration took on a international theme introduced through an
industrial exhibit of locally manufactured projects which
demonstrated Middletown's connections with nearly every nation in
the free world. Since 1981, Luxembourg, Mexico, Egypt, Brazil,
Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Italy, India, Ireland, the Caribbean,
eastern Europe, New Zealand, West Africa, Norway, Korea, and South
Africa have been featured. People from the featured country have
been invited to Middletown to participate and represent their
culture. The celebration attracts regional midwestern audiences of
over 100,000 every year. Always held the first weekend in October,
a continuous schedule of performances, exhibits, and demonstrations
takes place from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening. Middfest
is year-long celebration of diversity: an international outreach
effort that has strengthened personal, civic and professional ties
of the community to the many nations it serves through business,
education, and industry. It exists to promote world understanding,
friendship and peace.
Making up project documentation are a nine-page
written report, informational flyer and brochure, and
representative materials from the 1999 festival, "Voices of South
Africa," including a press file with newspaper coverage, a
bibliography and booklet on oral traditions in South Africa.
Twenty-four color Middfest photographs and their descriptions,
videotapes of the highlights of the 1998 Korean celebration, and a
Middfest poster and totebag, as well as nine copies (1991-1999) of
a glossy magazine,
Middfest International, are
provided.
Originally submitted by: John A. Boehner, Representative (8th District).
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The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.
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