MIDDLETOWN — From taverna to agora, it's all Greek at Middfest this weekend, as Middletown celebrates 20 years of promoting local interest in diverse cultures.

Students from Middletown schools look at a display case highlighting ancient Greece. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        The festival's 20th anniversary event spotlights the country that shaped much of Western civilization.

        Greeks also know how to celebrate, and that's what Middfest organizers have in mind for the festival, which kicks off Friday. From Olympics-themed activities to performances of Greek dancing to a model of that ultimate Greek gift, the Trojan horse, the three-day festival hopes to prove truly Hellenic.

        “The purpose of Middfest is to introduce people in this area of the country to other parts of the world by featuring one country at a time,” said Virginia Ritan, the festival's executive director. Ms. Ritan said Middfest was conceived when the city tried to decide what kind of event would best represent the city.

IF YOU GO

What: Middfest International    When: 6-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. An outdoor Greek Orthodox service opens Sunday's schedule.    Where: City Building and City Centre Plaza, Middletown    Admission: Free, but purchase of a Middfest Button helps support the festival.    Information: (513) 425-7707

        “Because we don't have any large ethnic groups, we decided to identify all the parts of the world reached by companies in our area,” she said. “We were surprised to learn that Middletown had 22 companies doing business with 55 different countries.”

        Playing an essential role in this year's festival is the congregation of SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Middletown. Church members have been doing more than preparing popular pastries, stocking up on gyro ingredients or making sure they have enough wooden skewers for the souvlaki, the flavorful Greek shish kebab.

        “We are converting one of the floors of the City Building into a Greek Orthodox center,” said the Rev. Christos Christakis, the church's priest. “People can get a taste of the Greek Orthodox church, and a professional iconographer will be painting icons.”

        Elsewhere on the festival grounds, puppets will retell Aesop's Fables and vintage Greek films will be screened. At the agora, Middfest visitors can buy a souvenir of Greece, or drop by the taverna for a taste or a tummy-full of Greek food.

        A lamb will sizzle on a spit in the plaza.

        Middfest is nothing if not inclusive. Performances by musicians and dancers from Celtic, Latin and African-American traditions will also weave their strands into the festival fabric.
       

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