A local celebration of Jewish and Israeli culture, ish Festival will mark the start of this year’s Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial celebration.
The festival takes place Sept. 25-26 in Over-the-Rhine’s Washington Park and offers two days of art, food vendors and live music, per a release. The 2021 event will be ish Festival’s third biennial celebration, with its inaugural festival held in 2017.
The 200th anniversary recognizes the 1821 founding of Chestnut Street Cemetery in the West End as the emanation point for the beginning of Cincinnati’s Jewish community. Organizers say this year’s theme, “From Generation to Generation,” nods to this legacy.
The festival will feature inclusive and culturally diverse programming for all ages, including an opening performance by famed American-Jewish artist Matisyahu.
“ish’s growth reflects Cincinnati’s diverse Jewish demographic. We’re proud to center our work downtown, in the historic home of Cincinnati’s Jewish community, while honoring and partnering with those who call the West End and OTR home today,” says Abby Schwartz., chair of the ish board
Organizers say this year’s festival will feature an expanded footprint and schedule plus will expand into the digital realm with a digital platform for “Jewish Cincinnati, A Walk Through History” walking tours.
Along with historical reenactments from Playhouse in the Park, the ish Festival and the Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial will officially launch with the formal rededication of Chestnut Street Cemetery.
Organizers say that following the rededication, the festival will kick off with attendees proceding to Washington Park, led by marching and Klezmer bands.
Follow ish Festival on Facebook for updates about vendors, performers and more.
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This article appears in Sep 15-28, 2021.
