MIDDLETOWN — It's not easy inviting the whole world to your doorstep. But that's what Middfest International has been doing for several months in anticipation of its 20th-anniversary, 25-country retrospective.

Basil Mills of South Africa holds a python to Jayme Scott, 13, of Westwood, right, at a class at Clark Montessori School in Hyde Park Wednesday. He will be at Middletown's Middfest this weekend. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Every country spotlighted since the festival began in 1981 — some years featured more than one country and there was a 10-year retrospective — takes the stage this weekend as Middletown transforms itself into a mini-United Nations.

        Many of the same performers are back again, said Ann Mort, who has chronicled Middfest celebrations for two decades.

        “People reached back into their memory banks and histories to bring back elements of earlier Middfests,” she said.

        “There's been a lot of hullabaloo and confusion, but that's part of what Middfest people enjoy.”

        Gathering the world together takes a broad community effort. Ms. Mort estimated that about 1,000 volunteers were involved in this year's festival, including host families for visiting performers.

IF YOU GO

What: Middfest International: Where Worlds Meet    When: 6-10 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday    Where: Downtown Plaza, Middletown    Admission: $5 adults; 12 and under free    Information: (513) 425-7707 or web site.

        “Instead of 15 host families, we needed 150; instead of 30 foreign guests, we have about 300. Some families are hosting two different cultures. Instead of one language we're dealing with 15 to 20, plus various religions, customs and food habits.”

        Middletown's Downtown Plaza will be bursting with color and rhythm from Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, South America and Africa. Bouzouki players will vie with Japanese drummers.

        There will be fancy footwork from South Africa, Korea, India, Martinique and Switzerland. Kabuki Theatre and contemporary dance theatres offer cultural contrasts.

        In between, there are displays for each country, cooking demonstrations, a genealogy center and an environmental science exhibit.

        Holding forth in the children's area will be Basil Mills, a storyteller and animal ecologist from Grahamstown, South Africa.

        He and other Middfest performers have been sharing their worlds with students in the Tristate this week.

        Appearing Wednesday with his new friend, a rescued 9-foot python named Monty, Mr. Mills warned students at Hyde Park's Clark Montessori School of the dangers of taking animals out of the wild.

        “I try to stop the pet trade,” he said. “It's an ecological disaster. When the animals are small, they're cute, but after about six months people get bored or scared, and then the animals suffer.”
       

Drug firms' gifts to docs draw scrutiny
Issue 1 faces trouble on ballot
Buyers OK price of ATP site
County adds 250 acres for parks
Heart attack survivors say Huggins has long road back
New organ donor list benefits 3
Parents hope to help police find killers of young people
Tristate A.M. Report
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Ruth's greeting
RADEL: Bengals
Butler Co. lawyer suspended
Clermont commission on the road
Farmers get public seats on panel
Middfest 20 years of togetherness
Principal gets reprimand for handling of complaints
Wanted man held after wrecking victim's car
Co-worker: Suspect speculated about victim
Crash in suburb kills pilot
Man arrested year and half after officer's hit-skip death
Men get 10 years in bar death
Kentucky News Briefs
Patton office looking for 'tipster'
Ruby proposes firefighters memorial in N. Kentucky
UK gets $22M grant for math, science