Middfest International - 2-4 October

[Shamelessly cut-n-pasted from an e-mail forwarded to me.]

Middfest International is a premier cultural event that celebrates a different country each year through a wide range of programs in the arts, culture and business. It is always the first weekend in October and takes place around the Middletown City Building on Donham Plaza in Middletown. This year the featured country is Indonesia and is Oct 2-4. There is constant live entertainment on several stages by local and regional performers, singers and dancers from Indonesia and will also host Dayton's much-loved Rhythm in Shoes during their final performance season. The International Food Court offers visitors foods
from South America to the Middle East to Asia, and the World Bazaar will also be stocked with souvenirs from Indonesia and the rest of the world.

All floors of the Middletown City Building will be devoted to some aspect of the culture of Indonesia through exhibits of artwork, demonstrations of traditional crafts, conversations and films. The Science and History Exhibits will study how exotic spices and unique geography helped build lucrative trade routes and shape the
nation. Puppetry, a distinguishing characteristic of Indonesian cultural arts, will be explored through performances of traditional shadow and rod puppets and the unique theatrical offerings of Das Puppenspiel in the Puppet Center. Visitors will also get to hear the traditional sounds of a full Gamelan orchestra, a traditional Javanese orchestra made up of gongs, chimes, bamboo xylophones, strings and
drums. Ohio University is lending their expertise to the Religion Exhibit, which will explore Indonesia's relationship with Islam and its unique acceptance of a number of other religions.

Children are invited to participate in Super Saturday, a special offering designed for youngsters to view exhibits and see performances on the Saturday morning of Middfest weekend prior to the event's opening to the general public. Youth Park will have a special Rain Forest theme this year to emphasize Indonesia's unique ecology. The park is open throughout the weekend with special children's activities, games and performances.

Middfest International – Celebrating Indonesia in 2009

Friday, Oct. 2 – 5:30 pm to 10pm
Saturday, Oct. 3 – 10 am to 10 pm (Super Saturday for children
registration at 9 am)
Sunday, Oct. 4 – 12 noon to 8 pm (exhibits close at 6 pm; Grand Finale
6pm to 8pm)
Admission: $5 Adults for the entire weekend; Children 12 and under free.