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Last weekend saw the return of the Festival of Nations in Weirton, following a gap of about six years.
I previously wrote about how this had become one of my favorite events over the years, and, I must admit, it didn't disappoint.
The modern version of the festival began in 2009 and ran until 2019, stopping only because of COVID. It was revived, again, through the efforts of the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center, with close to a dozen entertainment acts representing cultures from around the world.
Many of them were long-time participants for the Festival of Nations, with the Grecian Odyssey Dancers, Sanskruti School of Indian Dance and Music, Yanlai Dance Academy, and more, returning to the stage.
The DiBacco Sisters and Sheena Chopra, all Weirton natives, sang a selection of songs, with musician Bob Gaudio helping to close out the lineup.
It also was good to see Betsy Bethel-McFarland taking part this year. Betsy is a former colleague, having previously worked for the Wheeling newspapers, and is tremendous at the bagpipes. Some of you have probably heard her play during the Blue Mass at St. Joseph the Worker each September.
Having much of my own heritage from the United Kingdom and Ireland, I've had an affinity for the instrument, so it's nice to hear whenever there's a chance.
A lot of work goes into making an event like this happen, with months of planning and organizing.
First off, a big thank you to the members of the Festival of Nations Committee for putting this all together. Like many things in our communities, this is a volunteer effort, with residents giving their time to organize an event for the people of our area to enjoy.
I would especially like to congratulate Dr. J.K. Luthra, who helped to lead the charge in creating the modern version of the Festival of Nations more than 15 years ago, and revived it again this year. His enthusiasm often in contagious, and one can't help but see the love he has for the festival and the meaning behind it - a celebration of the cultures and heritages that make up our community.
It's become a family thing for him, too, with his wife, Dolly; children; and grandchildren, taking part in one way or another.
I hope the residents of the Weirton area appreciate the work that has been put into such a community event, and, perhaps, would even be interested in finding a way to help out in the future. This is something we don't want to see disappear again.
We want to see it grow, bringing in more entertainment acts, more food offerings, and more informational tables to share and showcase our history and heritage.
There is no one, single culture that has built our Ohio Valley, or, for that matter, our nation. From the earliest people who lived here to now, there always has been a mixture of beliefs, celebrations, traditions, and views.
We make it all work, though, because we know that our differences are just as important as our similarities, and have contributed to what makes us unique. You take out one of those groups, or several, and we are no longer what we are.
That needs to be celebrated, not torn away.
Dr. Luthra made the announcement last weekend that the festival will be back next year, with plans for March 21, 2026.
Hopefully, we will see this wonderful community event not only return, but once again grow to include a wider array of entertainment, food offerings, and more.
Despite all the political turmoil of today's society, let's not forget our roots. Let's pay tribute to all of the people who have contributed to our region, throughout its history, and who do so today to build toward our future.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)