EDITORIAL: IS THIS A GOOD IDEA Start a sizable ethnic festival

Source: The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.迷你倉Nov. 15--Would it be a good idea to ...... launch an ethnic festival to be held each summer in Luzerne County, spotlighting the foods, music and traditions of this area's potpourri of old and new settlers?Promote the multi-day event, both regionally and statewide, as the lollapalooza of heritage festivals. Allow a Luzerne County Diversity Affairs group, the startup of which might soon be discussed by county council, to oversee the initial planning. Seek representation from the full spectrum of nationalities: Dominican, Chinese, Italian, Irish, Greek and so on. Fill the festival grounds with food booths, allowing eaters to sample delicacies from around the globe. Hold friendly competitions (best cookie, best stew). Bestow bragging rights (which don't expire until the following year's festival). Award prizes.Designate each day leading up to the festival's grand finale to a showcase a different continent (Asia, for instance), turning over the stage, or multiple stages, to dancers and performers who trace their roots to that place. On the festival's closing day -- Fourth of July, perhaps? -- pick a unifying theme. And give thanks that you live in the US of A.We didn't run this community-building idea past the county's powers that be. We want to know what you think.In bygone years, if memory serves usmini storagecorrectly, an indoor ethnic festival was held at the Kingston armory. As recently as seven years ago, a King's College crew tried to replicate the event on campus, drawing some 1,000 visitors.If properly supported -- for instance, by the Luzerne County Council -- perhaps a big ethnic festival could blossom into the area's signature event, becoming synonymous with Northeastern Pennsylvania and pulling in plenty of visitors. For that reason, plan big. Ensure enough helping hands are available by recruiting many of the Valley's civic groups, religious organizations and vendors to pitch in, and giving them a stake in its success. Conduct the event on multiple acres in Kirby Park or another suitable site. The former Valley Crest nursing home property? Moon Lake Park?Is an all-encompassing ethnic festival a project worth pursuing?Give us your feedback by sending a letter the editor or posting comments to this editorial at timesleader.com or facebook.com/timesleader. Likewise, share with us your ideas for improving the community and making area residents' lives better. Maybe we'll spotlight your suggestion in a future editorial and ask readers, "Would it be a good idea to ..."Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) Visit The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) at .timesleader.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存