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Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival draws newcomers, returning residents

By Evan Bevins 4 min read

BELPRE - The Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival wrapped up its second year in Belpre over the weekend.

The event shifted from its traditional venue of Parkersburg City Park to Belpre's Civitan Park in 2025 due to construction of the activity and recreation center, which is expected to wrap up this year.

Belpre resident Samantha Craddock said she and her family attended for the first time last year. She said she appreciates "learning about all the different cultures and exposing the kids to all the different cultures."

Fleming resident Sharon Bennett said she's been coming to the festival for years, but it was the move to Belpre that had her push for the Multicultural Genealogical Center of Southeast Ohio to get a booth at it this year and last.

"I thought Belpre was a very important site, especially because the Underground Railroad was here," Bennett said.

Organizers said Friday a decision hasn't been made on where the event will be held next year. Bennett said she isn't sure if the Chesterhill-based center, which assists people with finding information about their ancestors and hosts a popular monthly speaker series, would set up in Parkersburg because they don't have as much information about that side of the Ohio River.

Parkersburg residents Mark and Ruth Stone have attended for years and followed the event to Belpre. They said they enjoy the various performances and usually try to attend at least part of all three days.

"Plus, it gets us out of the house," Mark Stone said. "I just hope they get City Park done before next year."

The activity center is expected to be completed this year.

The Stones were joined this year by Christina Gross, their son's girlfriend. It was her first time attending.

"It's awesome," she said. "There's a lot of stuff going on, different things to do."

Also newcomers to the festival were Gabriela Guerrero and Gabriela Vasquez of Gabriela Flamenco Academy in Columbus. Guerrero started the academy and Vasquez later joined as an instructor.

"It was coincidence that her name was Gabriela," Guerrero laughed, noting both are originally from Venezuela.

They finished their performance by inviting members of the crowd to dance with them in front of the stage. Guerrero said it may have been some people's first exposure to flamenco dancing.

"We really like this initiative," she said of the festival.

Attendance was good on Saturday and the weather was cooperative, Bea Corra, a member of the festival board and an organizer, said. Last year, the first year the festival was held at Civitan Park, was extremely hot and humid.

"It went amazingly smoother," she said.

Audiences for the entertainment didn't leave their seats and stayed for the shows, several of which promoted audience participation, and food vendors had a steady stream of customers, Corra said.

"Jimmy Avocado's sold out," she said.

Sales of the festival T-shirts also went well, this year promoting the states of West Virginia and Ohio and the Ohio River between, Corra said.

"It's a unique design for the festival," she said.

The festival, held 29 years, was moved to Civitan Park last year because of the construction at City Park.

Future venues of the Multi-Cultural Festival are yet to be determined even with the construction concluding at City Park, Corra said.

The festival was successful at Civitan Park, she said. Residents also said they liked how Civitan Park was more accessible and easier to move around at because it is flatter than City Park, Corra said.

"City Park is lumpy," Corra said.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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