Event features food trucks, beer garden and multicultural performances

Main Street Kent will host the fifth annual International
Festival on Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 7 p.m.

Downtown Kent will be transformed into a cultural melting pot when Main Street Kent hosts the fifth annual International Festival on Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 7 p.m. The event will take place at the Hometown Bank Plaza and on North Water Street, which will be closed from Main Street to Columbus Street for the festivities. Admission to the festival is free.

A variety of ethnic foods will be available for purchase from Hobo’s Gumbo, Jones Bones BBQ, Oasis Grille, The Orange Truk, Premier Crepes and Wholly Frijoles Mexican Street Food. Attendees also will be able to enjoy an international beer garden hosted by the Kent Jaycees at the Hometown Bank Plaza, where a selection of international beers will be available for purchase. A limited supply of commemorative glasses will be available as well, featuring the black squirrel with the multicolored tail!

This is a family-friendly event that features merchandise vendors, art activities, entertainment and fun for all ages.

Live performances will be featured at the Hometown Bank Plaza, including Sho-Jo-Ji Japanese dance, Naser Madi Mediterranean guitar, Barefeet Dance Tribe, Reality Check Dance Team, Elianae Stone Bellydancing, Camp Halim African Cultural Arts and more! The final entertainment schedule will be posted on the Main Street Kent website at www.mainstreetkent.org closer to the date of the event.

Want to take a trip around the world while in downtown Kent? Go for it! Take the Passport Excursion during the International Festival. Come downtown to the event and pick up your free passport at the entrance, and at your leisure, go explore special offerings from around the world at participating downtown businesses. You will enjoy treats and activities from Italy, Turkey, Japan, India, Sweden, Cuba and more! Participating businesses will have a special ethnic offering from a faraway country for all passport holders. Stops include Belleria, Carnaby Street Style, Destination Kent Visitor Centre (located on Erie Street across from the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center), Empire, Gracylane, HOME International Markets, Kent Cheesemonger, Kent Cycle, Kent Natural Foods Co-Op, Kent State Hotel and Conference Center, McKay Bricker Framing and Black Squirrel Gifts, Off the Wagon, Pita Pit, Scribbles Coffee, Secret Cellar, Standing Rock Jewelers, the Local Public House and Troy Grille. Once you have completed the tour, bring your passport back to the event entrance for a prize. All completed passports will be entered in a drawing to win a grand prize -- kids’ grand prize will be provided by HOME International Markets and adults’ grand prize will be provided by the Local Public House.

This event is generously sponsored by Kent State, NEOMED, PARTA and Hometown Bank.

Main Street Kent is a nonprofit organization focused on the revitalization of downtown Kent. It is an affiliate of the national Main Street program and the Heritage Ohio program.