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Home > Blogs > Things to do in Butler County > Archives > 2010 > May > 12 > Entry
Middfest/Botswana - Your thoughts?
At 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the VOA Learning Center in West Chester, Middfest will be hosting a talk on this year’s featured country, Botswana, presented by Fred Morton. Morton lives in Botswana and is a professor at the University of Botswana. Read more details here.
Botswana is one of the less well known countries Middfest has featured in recent years. For most of their countries, you can come up with an easy visual signature. For instance, China = Great Wall. Netherlands = Windmills/tulips. Greece = temples. Indonesia = volcanoes, etc.
But what does Botswana = ? It’s hard for a non-expert like me to say. That’s where Thursday’s talk may come in handy. I will most likely be covering it.
What do you think of Middfest’s featured country this year, or of Middfest in general?
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: Middfest International
Comments
By swohio75
May 12, 2010 1:13 PM | Link to this
It’s an odd choice, but could be interesting. I’ve been rather disappointed that Middfest has never focused on The Philippines as their featured county. It’s one of the fastest-growing immigrant segments in the US. Having been to The Philippines I can say their history and culture are very interesting, and the people are amazingly friendly.
By Big Bubba
May 12, 2010 1:55 PM | Link to this
They should have Mexico, it would be a good way to round’em up and haul’em off.
By Why
May 12, 2010 3:24 PM | Link to this
OK, Middfest is in Middletown and they are going to have a talk in West Chester about Botswana? Can we say attendance will be down this year. About time to cancel Middfest and come up with a better festival Idea.
By Middfest Blows
May 12, 2010 4:07 PM | Link to this
Middfest is a waste of time. The food court is pitiful. They rarely have authentic dishes and everything is over priced. Attendance is often low as well. Botswana is an odd choice, maybe if they had countries that people actually cared about they would get a higher attendance. Maybe next year they could do Djibouti or Uzbekistan. Middletown should focus on its roots and celebrate inbredness and redneckery.
By Not Me
May 12, 2010 4:13 PM | Link to this
Sorry, doesn’t interest me enough to go back and pay the prices for admission, food and drink. It is nothing compared to what it used to be. Middletown needs to dump this loser of a festival and move on to something better.
By huh
May 12, 2010 7:39 PM | Link to this
I think what you are all are trying to say is that you miss the OLD Midfest. Free parking and admission, great venues, cheap games and food. I haven’t gone in many years because it’s over priced and a city as large as Middletown shouldn’t charge their citizens to enjoy a festival celebrating not only another country but Middletown as well. What ever happened to the 4th of July Fireworks?
By huh
May 12, 2010 7:39 PM | Link to this
I think what you are all are trying to say is that you miss the OLD Midfest. Free parking and admission, great venues, cheap games and food. I haven’t gone in many years because it’s over priced and a city as large as Middletown shouldn’t charge their citizens to enjoy a festival celebrating not only another country but Middletown as well. What ever happened to the 4th of July Fireworks?
By dead man walkin'
May 12, 2010 8:21 PM | Link to this
what’s next? Rwanda? It almost seems that the city is trying to kill this festival with some of the recent picks for featured countries. There are about 200 countries in the world. If you can’t find something more appealing than Botswana, then start doing one each of the states (as in U. S. A.) That will take care of the next 50 years, and middletown will be nothing more than “the slum between Cincinnati and Dayton” by then and there will be no festivals.
By null
May 13, 2010 9:37 AM | Link to this
Heck ya, we can meet some of Obama’s family.
By Missing Ohio
May 13, 2010 10:56 AM | Link to this
I used to love going to Middfest with my family when I was younger, and I was looking forward to going this year. But, I can’t find a reason to go if the country being honored isn’t of any interest to me. The last time I went I was also questioning the prices and authenticity of food and items for sale.
By Why
May 13, 2010 4:07 PM | Link to this
I don’t have a problem paying to go, but give me a reason to go. To see Botswana sorry I’ll find something else to do that weekend. Middfest has become a drag and not very interesting or fun for most of the city. Main reason being the leadership has lost touch with the residents and are putting on shows that are PC and for them to feel better about.
By burt
May 16, 2010 12:42 PM | Link to this
This think needs new life…..It is out dated,Who cares about Botswana,just Honor Middletown,,,,, Tell your leader to get a life….
By HappyLL
July 4, 2010 2:03 PM | Link to this
We go to MiddFest every year for the last 5 years, since we moved to Middletown. We do really enjoy the festival, but gotta admit, the food, and sale items are NOT authentic (they’re the same each year). Still, I love the idea of expanding our view beyond the two Miami Rivers. Maybe some of these commenters are just content in a small corner of the world called Middletown, but not all of us feel that way. Sure it needs improvement as a festival, but it’s better than the typical beer/brats celebrated at most neighborhood festivals! Let’s look for ways to improve this Festival, not condemn it. (bunch of nay-sayers!)