Submitted by the Cincinnati Festival of Faiths
The theme of this year’s festival is: Compassion Through Action: Dwelling Together in Peace and Justice.
New this year, the Cincinnati Festival of Faiths is recognizing four prominent religious leaders as honorary festival co-chairs and adding a Peace Walk to the festival schedule. Hindu priest Acharya Kailash Sharma, Muslim American community leader Shakila T. Ahmad, Jewish Professor and Rabbi Gary P. Zola, PhD, and Roman Catholic Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of the Christian tradition will represent four of our community’s major religions. The Peace Walk at Ault Park will be the culminating event of the festival.
On Sunday, Aug. 27, the festival will begin with the exhibition from noon to 5 p.m. at Xavier University’s Cintas Center. The festival exhibition, hosted by EquaSion, is free, open to the public, and will feature exhibitors, vendors, food, and entertainment for all ages.
There will be something for everyone. The local Sikh community will again be set up in the Cintas center parking lot and will prepare and serve a delicious Langar, or community meal. Kids4Peace will set up a kids’ area inside with crafts and games. With over 65 booths of exhibitors, vendors, and sponsors the hall will be filled with goods and giveaways and a chance to learn more about other cultures and faiths. The entertainment ranges from a Native American flute player to Hindu dancers and the interfaith choir.
Starting on Aug. 27 and continuing throughout the week, this year’s festival will feature more than 30 faith traditions representing 13 world religions and will consist of a variety of programs that will culminate in an interfaith Peace Walk at Ault Park on August 31, at 7 p.m. All events and programs are free and open to the public.
