This weekend has one of the best events in Columbus, I think. If it’s not the best, it’s pretty darned good. The Columbus International Festival pulls together people from all over the world in two days of food, dance, music performances, displays, and a parade of nations. The groups that come aren’t just local, but from various parts of the world. Sure, it’s one way to see just how diverse Columbus is, but it also captures the richness of the people who call the U.S. home. The people who go are as diverse as the people who are vendors and performers. (This Flickr shot by a. feng is of an African dancer at the Columbus festival. I love the colors.)
My best time to go is right before it closes on Sunday. Prices are slashed so if you have a feasting spirit, you can take away truckloads of food if you want. My problem is deciding if I want to head to Denmark for a dose of frikadeller of to load up on Indian and Greek fare.
Columbus isn’t the only city to throw an international festival in November. I found three others.
- Raliegh, North Carolina’s International Festival is in its 22nd year and also happens this weekend.
- Indianapolis, Indiana’s festival is November 15-18 at the state fairground.
- The Mobile International Festival in Mobile, Alabama is the same weekend as Indianapolis’s.