Lorain International Festival a "homecoming" for the city

LORAIN — People of myriad nationalities filled Black River Landing with the smell of their food, the sound of their music and the spirit of their homeland on Saturday during the 57th Lorain International Festival. The festival and bazaar featured dozens of vendors selling the foods they felt best represented their countries, and pleased the festivalgoers, while musical acts representing nearly as many nationalities took the stage throughout the day. Just as the annual festival brings people of different nationalities together, Chris Rewak, Lorain International Association president, said it also brings together those who live in Lorain and those who have moved away or have family in the area. "Today we have had a steady stream of people coming through," Rewak said. "What I always say is; this event is like Lorain's homecoming. People are coming into town this weekend, they're coming from different parts of Lorain, Amherst, Sheffield, Avon (and) Elyria. They are all coming into the city this weekend to experience those international traditions and meet up with some old friends." Rewak said that the vendors and musical acts included both old favorites and new additions. One new addition to the stage was the members of Cleveland Donauschwäbische Blaskapelle, an Olmsted Township group that plays traditional German music. Vocalist Jim Lenahan, of Elyria, said the group was supposed to perform at the International Festival last year, but the performance was canceled by rain. Lenahan, wife Julie Williams and fellow vocalist Diana Taylor led the band — and the crowd — in a number of German waltzes, polka dances and drinking songs. "This was super fun, the crowd was small but I felt like they were very energized and engaged," Lenahan said. "I have tried lots of the food and they also have German Kool-Aid — beer. It was a really, really fun gig." Lenahan said that the band traditionally focuses on Swabian music, representing a culture which originates in southwestern Germany along the Danube River and into Hungary, but played more widely recognized German music to represent the whole country at the Festival. The Donauschwäbische Blaskapelle was followed by Lorain's own African Royalty Dancers, who performed songs representing cultures from various parts of the African continent. The 57th annual Lorain International Festival will conclude on Sunday beginning with a parade down Broadway before the Festival and Bazaar opens one more time from noon to 5 p.m. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.