Lorain International Festival – July 1973

Although the Lorain International Festival is held in June and consequently wrapped up this year on June 29, for many years (unless I'm wrong) it was a July event.

It's pleasant to remember those years when it was held at the Sheffield Center. Each year it was bigger and bigger, setting attendance records as it went along. The festival was the place to be during those years and it was unthinkable not to attend, as it was the highlight of the summer. Just going there meant that you would run into lots of old friends under those tents. And if it got a little hot in there, you could relax in the grass on the hill overlooking the parking lot, or go watch the ethnic dances and programs on the stage.

Above is the front page of the Journal of July 7, 1973. The top photo really captures what it was like back then. I know I used to go all three days back then; the Admiral King Marching Band had a soft drink booth and it was fun to work it at least one of those days. The rest of the time was spent people (girl) watching with my high school band buddies and sampling some of those once-a-year treats, like egg rolls from the Golden Dragon.

Today it's a different festival. There's an admission charge; it's held in an attractive venue down at the Black River (unfortunately often timed with the arrival of the lake flies). Many of the ethnic societies and organizations are long gone.

But the festival remains, which is a good thing for everybody. 

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.

Up With People – Lorain International Festival 1968

Full page Lorain Journal ad from June 24, 1968

Photo from June 29, 1968 Lorain Journal

Well, it's Lorain International Festival time again!

Fifty years ago, an appearance by Up With People kicked off the Second Annual International Festival with two performances at Admiral King High School.

What's Up With People? It's a group of young people who travel the world in an effort to make it a better place, spreading peace, good cheer and hope through their inspirational music and positive action.

Read all about it in the Journal article below, which appeared in the paper on June 27, 1968, two days before their Lorain show. The article by Rich Bloom contrasts the “Up With People” cast with the hippies that were so prevalent then.

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'Up With People' Crew Sings 
To Make a Better World

By Rich Bloom
Staff Writer

TUESDAY NIGHT a group of "hippies" invaded and took over a radio station in New York, shouting obscenities to hundreds of viewers never before heard over the air.

MEANWHILE, in the same city – 180 hard-working young men and women – members of the internationally known "Up With People" cast – were busily preparing a variety of songs for their Lorain debut on June 29.

The two groups are entirely different in actions, speech and philosophies.

WHEREAS the "hippies" protest, hoping to change the world, the "Up With People" members sing out what they're for, doing their part to change world attitudes.

WHEREAS the "hippies" try to find a new world through LSD and "pot," the "Up With People" young adults attempt to point out why there's really no need to find a new world.

They are clean, wholesome and they believe in honesty, purity, truth and love.

Even though these differences are clearly delineated, many people still tend to judge today’s youth solely on the actions and speech of the “hippies.”

This widely publicized contingent of bearded draft-card burners is constantly in conflict with the purpose bend the “Up With People” philosophy – to change the image of today’s youth and at the same time try to mold new attitudes and ideas for future generations.

THROUGH SONGS such as “Freedom Isn’t Free” and “The World is Your Own Hometown” the young men and women are striving continuously toward their goal, and in the past three years have spurred many other young people along the same path.

The cast will present, in concert, these and other songs when they appear in Lorain for two concerts leading off the city’s Second Annual International Festival.

Inspiring music will be the keynote when the energetic cast burst onto the Admiral King High School stage, both Sunday and Monday nights at 8 p.m.

Sales of tickers for the concert, priced at $1.50 for students, $2.50 for adults and $3.50 for a limited number of reserve seats, are reported as “good” and are still available at the following locations:

The Journal

All Lorain Banks and their respective branches

The Lorain County Savings and Trust Co. branches at the Midway Mall and Amherst

LORAIN AREA families have opened their hearts warmly and enthusiastically, providing accommodations for the entire cast, scheduled to arrive in Lorain Saturday afternoon.

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By the way, Up With People is still around. Here’s the link to its website.

First Lorain International Festival – 1967

Full page ad from the Journal of July 6, 1967

It’s interesting looking back at the very first Lorain International Festival as covered in the Lorain Journal.

The first Lorain International Festival was very well planned, and established the template for all of the succeeding ones. It included the International Princess Pageant and Dance, the International Parade, two International Band Concerts, the International Festival Mayor’s Breakfast and the International Fair and Bazaar. There was also an International Fish Fry at the Lorain Yacht Club, an International Sail Down that began at the Vermilion Yacht Club and finished at the Lorain Yacht Club, and an International Regatta Race.

Back then, the International Princess Pageant and Dance took place on Monday, July 3. As the paper reported, "fourteen lovely girls representing ten nationalities" competed for the title of Queen of the International Festival.  As reported in the Journal, Irene Kychun, the Ukrainian princess, was crowned Queen. First runner up was Norma Rosario, the Puerto Rican princess, followed by Peggy Davis, the Afro-American princess as second runner up, and Vickie Chick, the Polish princess as third runner up.

The first International Parade took place on July 4, 1967 kicking off the week-long celebration. Today’s International Parade is now the culmination of the celebration, taking place on the last day of the Festival.

The opening night of the International Bazaar and Fair – Friday, July 7, 1967 – had more than 20,000 visitors.

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On June 27, 1967 the article below appeared about the upcoming International Fair and Bazaar, noting that the booths were under construction inside a building at the Sheffield Shopping Center. It compared the bazaar to a World’s Fair with more than 30 participating nationalities.

Malcolm D. Hartley, then Editorial Page Editor of the Journal, wrote a great article that appeared on the Page of Opinion on July 3, 1967, marking the opening of the first annual International Festival. Its words ring true today.

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International Festival – A Salute to New Lorain
By MALCOLM D. HARTLEY
Editorial Page Editor

TODAY MARKS the opening of the first annual International Festival in Lorain. A full week of pageantry, parading, dancing and fun is ahead for all who desire to share in the activities.

Why an International Festival?

The question is one deserving of an answer and for which there is an answer.

THE FESTIVAL IS A SYMBOL of an awakened Lorain – a Lorain which is becoming aware of its unlimited potential to shape itself into a vibrant, interesting, thriving cosmopolitan metropolis different than any other city in the United States.

Different, yes. Also exciting and inspiring. And a happy place, too – a community in which the residents take pride and from which visitors depart with regret.

For years Lorain has blindly accepted a role an an industrial center, economically adequate but culturally deprived. No such limitation was, or is, necessary. This community has within its reach both economic and spiritual blessings. It possesses rare qualities which will be priceless once they are fully recognized and utilized.

CAN YOU IMAGINE having a treasure in your home which you and your family have left untouched because you did not recognize its value?

That’s what Lorain has been doing, failing to recognize the bright jewels at our fingertips in the form of the customs, languages, dances, arts, foods, architecture and viewpoints of the various nationality groups which comprise this community.

LORAIN HAS BEEN SHAPED by immigration, wave after wave from many countries throughout the past century. Always the immigrants were accepted without hostility by those who had preceded them, and found Lorain a comfortable haven. The newcomers brought with them the jewels of their cultures.

The time has come to use and share the treasure.

The festival is a symbol of a new era. It is an opener, a curtain raiser. It is a force to emphasize and to capitalize the word “International” so that it becomes a part of International Lorain.

Why an International Festival?

As such events go, it is big, action-filled and unusual. It has the capacity to make Fourth of July week of 1967 memorable in Lorain. Yet it is only the beginning of a movement that can make Lorain a unique city with a rare international flavor that will set it apart, with distinction, from all others.

FOR ALL OUR MATERIAL progress in the United States, there is a sameness to cities that is tiresome. The few that have escaped the pattern stand out with the clarity of a lighthouse on a dark night. Lorain hasn’t escaped, but can.

Think of Lorain as a center of world culture, with ships from faraway lands in the harbor, with a permanent international market, with sections which preserve the architecture, shops and products of various nationalities, with a new city hall and port headquarters flying the flags of many nations.

Our goal is not to be the same, but to be different. The only “sameness” we need is the true American spirit which already exists and which binds us all together.

Why an International Festival?

To herald the birth – rather, the rebirth – of our community as Lorain, the International City.

That’s why.

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Another editorial summed up the whole reason behind the festival. It appeared in the Journal on Saturday, July 8, 1967.

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New Image for Lorain

LORAIN IS GAINING a new image as a city with a purpose – a city ready to grow culturally, eager to adhere to the principles of brotherhood and prepared to strive for progress and recognition.

The International Festival being held this week has had much to do with putting the community on a new course. The new image was evident at the Mayor’s Breakfast on Thursday.

Every segment of the population was represented, including public officials, industrial and business figures, women’s groups, average citizens, nationality organizations, professional people and top civic leaders.

Front page of July 7, 1967 Journal

Headlining the program was Gov. James A. Rhodes, who called for a loudly publicized, hard-hitting program of activities designed to make Lorain known everywhere. His promotional suggestions included an international swim across Lake Erie and international bike races.

The way to gain attention, he commented, was to do things out of the ordinary.

Howard T. Robinson was the second featured speaker. He is labor advisor to the Bureau of Far Eastern Affairs of the U. S. State Department.

He declared that Lorain, a city of moderate size made up of 55 nationalities, has a rare opportunity to demonstrate for others how different languages, cultures, skills and customs can be blended.

The breakfast was the event which, more than any other during this week of the International Festival, put the focus on unity – civic advancement achieved through the cooperation of everyone.