Lebanese Festival - June 1-3

Last weekend we enjoyed the Lebanese Festival. I love to go because I enjoy the food, music, and dancing. Sorry, I was stuck on taking pictures of my kids and my friend's kids, so you won't see dancing pictures. However, I can tell you, like always it is exciting. They didn't have cabbage rolls when I was there this year (a little bit of sadness on my part). Of course, I can't say if I was just too late getting there or if they just decided not to make them this year (hoping it's the former).

Cultural events are always fun in my book. I get to escape to another world so to speak and it is a great learning/teaching opportunity for the kids. Sure, they have the bounce house and obstacle course. Sure they have cotton candy, snow cones, and face painting - but they also open the kids' eyes to other cultures. I am a travel fanatic (even though I have been grounded since having children) - this is my opportunity to share what I love with my kids.

Festival in the Park - May 25 and 26

Okay, so the Festival in the Park runs longer than two days, but I can only really tell you about my experience. For the first time, I went to the Friday night concert - which I was excited about because it was the Gin Blossoms. I remember this band from back in the day - I am not going to date myself, but let's just say I do remember them from the early 90s. I wasn't much into music back then - I could tell you if I liked a song, but could not tell you the song title or the band. However, I enjoyed sitting at the concert listening to this band again.

It did make me feel old to watch all the teenagers running around in extremely skimpy outfits. I don't think that I am much of a prude, but definitely not things I would want my kids running around in (much less what I would wear at that age). The cool thing about the concerts is that they are extremely family friendly - kids 6 and under get in for free. Depending on the bands playing next year, I will probably bring the kids with me.

Saturday, I headed to the Festival to check out the family fun. Not only do they have tons of family friendly events (including the beloved Fireman's Foam). I love wandering through the tents looking at all the items people are selling. Sometimes I wish I had a lot more money than I did - it would be nice to support these local ventures. I love the jewelry that people create, my kids love the crazy creatures. There is no end to the gifts and artifacts you will find.

Not to mention the performances. There are all sorts of exhibits and talents that you will see. From Pro- BMX bikes to artists to sand sculptures. Many children love the little petting zoo - with the alpacas, bunnies, ponies and more.

Memorial Day Weekend is an important, special weekend. This Festival brings out everyone - we even met some people who drove in from Richmond for the concert. If you haven't checked out this Festival yet, put it on your calendar for next year. I already know that it is on mine.

Local Colors Festival - Saturday, May 19, 2012

It has been a while since I have posted about any of the fun things that we have done in Roanoke. We went to the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Easter Egg Hunts all over Roanoke, and the Strawberry Festival. I feel horrible that I did not post about the fun and excitement we discovered during these events. This past weekend, however, we went to the Local Colors Festival. This is one of those festivals that I am a big fan of. I love to travel and with little ones, this is the closest I am going to get to go to another country for a while. Plus, I get to share this experience with the kids.

We enjoyed the parade of countries at the beginning of the festival. I even gave in and purchased (for $1.00 each) two passports so the kids could collect stamps from each country that we visited. They even had it set up so the kids could get free passport photos taken to put in their passports. I loved the countries that we stopped at where the people would share some of their culture with the kids before they earned their stamp.

Not only did we get to learn about other countries, but we could buy food from those countries too. We tried Thai food last year. The kids kept it simple and American with hot dogs. I decided Germany's Bratwurst sounded delicious and it was. I wanted to head over to France after lunch had a chance to digest and get a crepe, but by 3:00 the line was too long and I was more impatient than the kids.

They had a Kids Zone too, with a bounce house, free popcorn, face painting and our favorite caricature lady.

As usual, the kids had fun and so did I. We all got to see and do things that we enjoyed. Next weekend is Festival in the Park, which starts on Thursday and runs through Monday.

Local Colors Festival - May 21, 2011

You know an event is a success when your child says, "That sure was fun. Thanks Mom!" Those were the words I got to hear as I was pulling out of the parking garage this afternoon. So, thank you Roanoke for giving me a special moment with my sons. We arrived at the festival at about 11:45am and just caught the tail-end of the Countries Parade. The kids were interested in the people walking across the stage -what they were wearing, what their language was like, etc- I think if they were a year older, they would have even enjoyed it more. We missed all the stage action after the parade because the food was located in a different area. Sure, it was nice walking through the booths set up in Elmwood Park. They were selling goods from the country and had a lot of information. I would have loved to spend more time poking around the booths, but I did have a little trouble pushing around the umbrella stroller (note to self, this was a bad time to sell the heavy duty stroller). I can't wait to enjoy festivals without strollers. So, we wandered up to Jefferson Street where the food vendors and a kids' corner set up. The kids' corner had a face painter, free popcorn, and free caricatures. We put our names on the list for caricatures and wandered off to find lunch. It was one of the hardest food decisions I had to make in a while. I love my Asian foods- Japanese, Chinese, and Thai options. I even think there was Vietnamese options. Then we had the Spanish inspired options- Mexican, Cuban, etc. There were Middle Eastern options- such as Syria. There were also French, German, and Polish options. I settled on Vegetable Fried Rice and an Egg Roll from the Thai vendor. I went back for a French Crepe as dessert. There is nothing better than fresh strawberries and Nutella wrapped up in a warm crepe. The boys settled on Hot Dogs from the American vendor and a Popsicle for dessert from the Mexican vendor. I was truly let down that I couldn't find a Gyro there though. That is my absolute favorite Foreign meal. The day couldn't have been better. I am always amazed to realize that we are at a festival for hours (we didn't leave until after 3pm) when I think we will only make it for an hour. I am so glad that I got to share this event with my little guys and I cannot wait until next year.

Here is the 2011 Schedule of events:

12:00	Egyptian Belly Dance (Shamadan)		Thana Toregas
12:15	Mexican Children Dancers		Zaida Ceballos, Kimberly
12:20	Caribbean Instrumental		Richard Rudolph
12:30	Spanish Dance: Roanoke Ballet Theatre		Zuheil A. Bañuelos, Sandra Mayhaler
12:40	Philippine Fashion Show		Cani
12:45	Philippine Church Choir		Jesus The Redeemer Church
12:50	Brazilian Martial Arts		Capoeria Alex
1:00	Polynesian Tahitian Dance		Maka
1:05	Native American Singers		Azuree Windwalker
1:10	American Clogging, Miss Roanoke Valley's Outstanding Preteen		Sydney Carmony, Donna
1:20	Burmese/Myanmar Dance & Drumming		Bea Sellinger
1:25	Fashion Show: Pose 4 Purpose, Continental Fashion		Jason & Heather Moore, Ashley Glass
1:35	Chinese Martial Arts:Shaolin Dragons		David White
1:50	Casino Rueda (Cuban Salsa)		Salsa Noke
1:55	Brazilian Singer: Berg Martins		Ruzenburg
2:05	Bachata: Dominican Dance		Salsa Noke
2:10	Polynesian & Samoan Dancers & Drummers: Paradise Journey		Ilima Noble
2:30	Fashion Show Fashionista		Garland Gravely, Mary Guirguis
2:45	Zumba Dancing		Maka, Eduardo
2:55	Egyptian Fashion Show		Mary Guirguis
3:00	Ukrainian Instrumental Bandura		Olga Vlasova
3:15	Mexican: Aztec Dancers		Miguel Mendosa
3:30	Syria: Dance		Samar Karkenny
3:40	Middle Eastern Dancing		Gracie Moore
3:50	English Contra Dancers		John O’Brian
4:00	Korean Fashion		Han-Ja Cho
4:10	Sudanese Children Dancing &Singing		Emanual
4:20	American Dancing Club Rockers		Arthur Hook
4:30	Polynesian Dancing Rhythm Fire		Ilima M.
4:45	African: Sisters of the Circle, Price Center of Dance		Nakia Price Palmer
5:00	African Waka Waka Universal Dance		Jebet Kibogy

Highlight of Festival Events

All Day Events

• For children there are PHOTO PASSPORTS ($1.00) available that can be stamped by each country booth that they visit and learn about.
• Children’s Games (inside the city library)
• Spectacular display by "Sons of Norway" - Longhouse - Viking Reenactments
• Hot dogs and Hamburgers grilled at the America Booth for those with picky eating little ones

For Sale

• Passports $1.00 w photos
• Local Colors T-shirts $10.00, Adults and Children’s Sizes
• Globes
• Authentic International Food Booths galore (on Bullit Ave)

  Sample foods from all over the world, such as:
  Falafel Tabhoulli Hummus Baklava Norwegian Våffler Lutefisk (norwegian fish) Vegemite (Australia) Australian Sausage Rolls Spanakopita (spinach & feta pie) Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) Paximathia (greek biscotti)	Vietnamese eggrolls Indian Curry Naan bread Tandoori Korean dumplings Barbequed beef German pastry Shortbread Irish soda bread Greek Coffee Honduran Coffee

Experiencing the Fun Roanoke Has to Offer

"Mom, there's nothing to do and I am bored." How often do parents hear these words when the kids are home for the summer? Remove the "Mom" and this is a phrase I hear often said about my current hometown. When I was in college, I would whine and complain that I was bored and this town had nothing to offer. Boy, was I ever wrong. I was just being lazy because there is so much to do! Some weekends I find myself having to make a choice between three events and in a case like this, I become overwhelmed and decide a quiet weekend at home with the family is the best case scenario. I have decided to start this blog to chronicle all the amazing events Roanoke has to offer. I am sad to start it 5 months into the year, but the thought of it just came to me. However, over the next twelve months, I hope to fill this blog with so many events and places to visit that your head will spin with the overwhelming thought. I've grown to love my adopted city and want to share this love with anyone who is interested. Today, I am taking my boys to the Local Colors Festival. I have never been before, but I hear there is a parade and tons of good foods to try. I do not know what else I will find, but it is time for me and the boys to get ready.