Cincinnati’s riverfront becomes a tour of world cultures on Saturday, as the fourth annual International Friendship Day takes over Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free, family-friendly celebration fills the park’s Pavilion area with live music, dance, cultural booths and food trucks, all outdoors at 1135 Riverside Drive.
The entertainment runs nonstop through the afternoon. Asian Lion Dancers open the day, followed by the Cincinnati-Dayton Japanese Taiko Drums, the “Baja” Hispanic Dancers, Ukrainian Dancers and the German “Polka Warriors.” Salsa dancing and Caribbean steel drums round out a lineup designed to move from one tradition to the next without a break.
Between performances, visitors can stop at interactive booths hosted by Cincinnati’s Sister Cities in China, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. The Dayton Sister Cities will be there as well, along with community groups representing Bulgaria, Bhutan and Nepal, and Italy — turning a walk through the park into a pass through a dozen cultures in a single afternoon.
The Pavilion, which features original ceramic art tile made especially for the park, will display international student art, including work by students from Ukraine. Families can meet FC Cincinnati’s Street Team and the club’s lion mascot, Gary, explore hands-on art with the Cincinnati Art Museum’s CAM Cruiser, and visit Activities Beyond the Classroom, the Cincinnati Public Library and CET Public Television.
Food is part of the tour, too. Kungfusion is this year’s savory food truck, joined by a second truck serving drinks and desserts, and visitors can take home Japanese baked goods from Chiz’s Bakery. Organizers invite guests to bring their lunch into the Pavilion and eat among the student artwork.
The setting carries its own story. International Friendship Park opened in 2003 and is named for Theodore M. Berry, Cincinnati’s first African American mayor. The park grew out of the city’s friendships with its Sister Cities around the world, and its mosaics, sculptures, gardens and buildings were created by and in honor of those partner cities.
Saturday’s event is presented with partners including the International Friendship Park Advisory Council, the Cincinnati USA Sister City Association, the Dayton Sister City Association, the Sons & Daughters of Italy, the Bulgarian Association of Cincinnati, the Taiwanese Association of Cincinnati and the Alliance Française de Cincinnati. Admission is free, and the celebration runs rain or shine outdoors around the Pavilion until 3 p.m.