International Bazaar ready for party

New bands, some changes on tap

New entertainment and a slightly altered parade route await festival-goers ready to celebrate Lorain’s ethnic heritage.

The 51st Annual Lorain International Festival & Bazaar continues with the city’s largest community party on June 23, 24 and 25 at Black River Landing waterfront site.

Last year the festival had a successful golden anniversary celebration. Now the planners are ready to continue the tradition, said Lorain International Association President Ben Davey.

This is Davey’s first festival as association president, and Natalie Rodriquez is serving in her first festival as vice president. She also coordinates the International Princess Pageant this year.

There are some new board members and new vendors and entertainers will be at the bazaar, Davey said.

“That 50th, I think was a capstone year for us,” he said. “I think we’ve made the transition well. Getting to the 51st was a step and I think we’re in a position to do that in a strong way. Hopefully next year we can build on that.”

Along with performances from ethnic groups of Lorain and the region, this year the festival will have classic rock performers all three days.

The acts are the Woodstock Tribute Band, Evil Ways — Santana Tribute Band and Rumours, the Fleetwood Mac tribute band. There also will be a performance by the Irish folk band No Strangers Here.

“The thought behind having those two bands as our main stage entertainment was to continue the momentum we’re seeing with Rockin’ on the River, hoping to give people that classic rock experience they kind of expected throughout the summer at Black River Landing,” Davey said.

On June 25, the Lorain International Parade will have two featured guests this year.

Marchers will include Superheroes to Kids in Ohio. The group specializes in “random acts of kindness to children facing adversity,” with members dressed as popular comic book superheroes.

The Lorain Arts Council will bring participants with masks made under the tutelage of Kenneth Melendez, a Lorain native who moved to Puerto Rico to study mask-making techniques.

Melendez was in Lorain this month for workshops to create traditional Puerto Rican vejigante masks that will appear in the parade.

Davey gave the rundown on more things to know if you want to go.

Basics

• Daily admission is $3 per person.

• Parking can be found along Broadway.

• For alcoholic beverages, wristbands will be provided for those age 21 and older at the beer tent on the north side of the festival.

•Security will be provided by Lorain police.

Friday, June 23

• Opening ceremonies will be at 5 p.m. The Lorain International Princesses will be introduced and Joyful Voices Choir will sing. The bazaar closes at 11 p.m.

• At 7 p.m. the Woodstock Tribute Band will recreate music of the performers at Woodstock in 1969.

• At 9 p.m. will be Evil Ways – Santana Tribute Band.

Saturday, June 24

• The Bazaar runs noon to 11 p.m.

• The Lorain International Princesses will kick off the afternoon entertainment at 1 p.m.

• Various ethnic performers will be on stage 2 to 5:30 p.m.

• At 7 p.m., No Strangers Here, an Irish folk band, will perform.

• At 9 p.m. Rumours, the Fleetwood Mac tribute band, will perform.

Sunday, June 25 LCCC open house

Lorain County Community College is this year’s spotlight organization. LCCC will have an open house of its Lorain Learning Center, 201 W. Erie Ave., in the City Center across from Lorain City Hall. The open house will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free.

International Parade

The Lorain International Parade will start at 11:30 a.m. June 24.

The parade will have a slightly shorter route this year. It will stage and step off on Broadway in the area of Lorain County Health & Dentistry, 1205 Broadway.

The route will continue north on Broadway and turn left onto West Erie Avenue, past Lorain City Hall, then end at Washington Avenue.

The shorter route makes it easier for walkers and likely won’t affect people lining Broadway in the main viewing area from the Lorain Palace Theater, 617 Broadway, to City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave.

At the Bazaar

At noon, the Rock n’ Ravers, a classic rock and dance band playing family friendly early rock n’ roll favorites, will take the stage.

There will be ethnic dancers and entertainment from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Reduced hours

The Sunday hours will be reduced from the last two years. This year the Bazaar will end at 6 p.m. on June 25.

The Sunday hours had been extended to 9 p.m. the last two years due to rain on International weekend in 2015.

The festival coordinators added time for people to come down and vendors to continue selling their wares once the weather cleared. But in 2016, it seemed like more people visited during the day and did not take advantage of the evening hours.

Chance to help

The Lorain International Association always is looking for people interested in helping the city’s signature community festival. Volunteers are needed during the festival week and bazaar.

Anyone interested can call Davey at 440-371-7684

“This is a completely volunteer experience and we can always us an extra hand if somebody would like to be involved,” Davey said.