Lorain International Breaks a Record – July 3, 1971

Although Lorain canceled its International Festival early this year on account on the pandemic, it’s a good time to remember the "good old days" when the event was held in the May Company parking lot at the Sheffield Shopping Center. It was a huge event back then, and to miss it was unthinkable. Sometimes we went to the festival all three days. (It was free admission, too.)

Above is a nice reminder of those days. The article, written by Journal Staff Writer Marsha Nutter, ran in the paper back on July 3, 1971 – fifty years ago this month. It notes that the opening day crowd of 30,000 people was a record setter.

But it was a different Lorain back then. There were still many thriving ethnic organizations and clubs, so there really were authentic foods at the once-a-year bazaar that you looked forward to. I still remember getting great egg rolls at the Golden Dragon booth. And there was an out-of-town (I think it was in Lakewood) bakery that had a booth at the festival each year, with genuine German pastries and goodies. I remember that the family who owned the bakery all wore German outfits (including the cute daughters).

There were other differences between the International Festivals of the past and the current version. There was plenty of nearby parking at the Sheffield Center. The huge festival tents there insured that rain or shine, the show would go on (although it could get pretty hot in there). The picnic tables were a convenient place to take a break; there was also the grassy hill overlooking the festivities where you could catch a breeze and relax under the trees.

The Admiral King Marching Band used to have a booth selling pop, and it was fun to work there during the weekend and people watch. It was always a bummer when a syrup tank was empty and we’d have to have it replaced.

Anyway, I haven’t been down to the modern Festival at the riverfront for years. The last time I went, the festival weekend coincided nicely with the annual arrival of the lake flies. 

But I’ll give it another try next year.

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I wrote about the very first Lorain International Festival back here.