Lorain Int'l Festival draws thousands during three day event & parade, Lions Club delivers help

NewsChannel 5's Paul Kiska honorary Grand Marshal

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Posted: 06/22/2012

By: Paul Kiska, newsnet5.com

LORAIN, Ohio - Food, dancing, music, a parade and lending a helping hand. The Lorain International Festival delivered another wonderful year of fun, while the spotlight organization helps children with vision care.

After Sunday's parade through the streets of downtown Lorain, the Lorain Lions Club gave free vision screenings to children.

For 90 years, the Lorain Lions Club has been helping people with vision care. Their work includes free vision screenings, as well as vouchers for eye glasses for Lorain school children through high school years.

You can watch News Channel 5's Dave Gapinski 's story on the Lorain Lions Club in the video segment of this story.

The Lorain International Festival brought back wonderful memories for me. The savory aroma of pierogies, cabbage and noodles, barbecue ribs and gyros all fill the air of the warm June night, mixed with a variety of cultural music.

Parents caught up with friends, while the kids ran and played, as dancers took to the stage in traditional costumes.

Those are the images I remember most about going to the Lorain International Festival when I was a kid, growing up on W. 29th Street in Lorain. That was when the hugely popular International Festival was still being held under the massive tents at the old Sheffield Center.

Never did I imagine that one day I would be riding in the International Parade down Broadway Avenue in my hometown. But that's exactly what I did Sunday under sunny skies in downtown Lorain.

Lorain Lions Club President Doug Kayle said one of the highlights of this year's parade was the Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band, which delivered an inspiring performance.

The Lorain Lions Club is trying to raise money for a vision care center.

I rode in the parade with the Lorain Lions Club in a mint 1966 AMC Ambassador convertible as the Honorary Grand Marshal. As I begin my 13th year with NewsChannel5, this was a big honor and a lot of fun for me.

The Master of Ceremony was Don Vincent. The Grand Marshal, Dr. and Mrs. Yuzon, represented the Philippine Spotlight Nationality.

The Lorain International Festival and Bazaar is now held along the Black River Landing in Lorain. The festival celebrates dozens of nationalities and cultures with the sharing of gifts from many homelands plus food, music, costume and tradition.

The three-day bazaar took place along the scenic Black River, and featured a multitude of foods, with a wide variety of ethnic cuisine to sample. Festival goers enjoyed over 100 ethnic foods, plus live entertainment, children's activities and more.

It was such a joy to see so many thousands of people lining the parade route to enjoy this year's parade. Here's to many more years of memories at the festival!