Westerville Chinese Festival 2012 "Year of the Dragon"

For the fifth year, the Ohio Chinese Festival celebrated  “the splendor and richness” of Chinese culture in commemorating a new year; the year of the Dragon

The Ohio Chinese Culture Link, together with the Ohio Contemporary Chinese Schools and other community organizations, hosted the free event from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Westerville Central High School.

The Festival program included exciting cultural demonstrations of traditional Chinese arts, such as Chinese calligraphy, Chinese painting, costume shows of different minority groups, the Chinese tea ceremony, and a scenic photography display. Also feature sports competitions, children’s games, and Chinese cooking demonstrations.

More than 100 core volunteers have been working diligently for the past several months towards making the largest Chinese New Year celebration in the state of Ohio an even greater attraction. The Festival has received generous support from national and local businesses and individuals. And for the second year in a row, the group received a grant from the Franklin County Arts Council. 

    

Circleville Pumpkin Show

The largest Pumpkin Festival in the USA is in Circleville, Ohio. Since this event was started in 1903 by the city mayor with a single display of corn stalks and pumpkins, it has grown to a street fair that covers eight city blocks filled with twenty-five or more amusement rides and over three hundred food booths, games and craft vendors. There are daily parades, the obligatory beauty contest, and constant entertainment performed on three different stages from early morning until threatened by the midnight hour. Featured will be a large pumpkin pie, contests, entertainment, all kinds of pumpkin foods, as well as giant pumpkins, squash, gourds, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, arts and crafts, canned goods, art show, and flowers. There will be more than 20,000 pumpkin pies for sale and in excess of 100,000 pounds of pumpkins on display. The Pumpkin show is held always 3rd Wednesday through Saturday of October.

Asian Festival 2011

Asian Festival at Franklin Park Conservatory, May 28-29, 2011.

This annual event with more than 50,000 visitors and will continue to grow, thanks to the strong participation of many people regardless of origin and ethnicity. The Asian Festival is a week-long celebration with festivities showcasing the cultural heritage of 15 Asian communities. Visitors to the Asian Festival will experience hands-on art demonstrations, interactive dance performances, Asian music, Tai chi, martial arts workshops, Asian games and Asian cuisine.

Not only will guests learn about the cultures and traditions of the people from China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Laos and Pakistan – to name about a dozen – it presents a very rich and fun experience. Activities are abundant. They include performing and visual arts shows, children’s activities, cultural displays, martial arts demonstrations, and educational exhibitions.

Because of the tremendous success, the festival has received strong support from state, city, corporate, and communities every year since its beginning in 1995. The festival is also recognized as one of the major special events in Central Ohio.