With everything that’s happening in Israel, many in the community have wondered if Jewish Culture Fest will go on as planned this weekend. The answer is yes.
“Now, more than ever, we feel it is important for our community to gather together and show support for Israel,” said Diane Azorsky, board chair of The J. “Jewish Culture Fest will continue to go forward as planned as an event that honors Jewish culture, history and heritage. Additionally, we are currently working on a plan that will show our support for Israel and those impacted by the horrific events that have unfolded.”
Security is a top priority, and The J has added additional security measures to what was already planned for the festival.
“While we would not disclose our security procedures publicly, we will have some of the most enhanced security measures in place at Jewish Culture Fest that we've ever had,” said Jim Sluyter, president and CEO of The J. “Some measures will be visible, such as the use of metal detectors and an increased level of security personnel, while others will remain unseen. As always, our Jewish community security director is in close contact with local law enforcement and will continue to monitor events as they unfold, and we will adjust as necessary."
Jewish Culture Fest will be at the Jewish Community Center this Sunday, Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Attendees can expect a variety of entertainment opportunities, including performances from national artists; jewelry, art and more for sale from more than 60 vendors; family activities; kosher food; a kosher wine tasting experience; and more.
“After planning and preparing for this event over the past year, we are so excited that we’re just a few days away,” said Rhonda Fromm, Jewish Culture Fest committee co-chair. “We are looking forward to an event that celebrates and shares Jewish history, art and heritage with many in the Kansas City community.”
Earlier this year, event organizers announced a lineup of national performing artists who will entertain guests. Children’s musician ShirLaLa will perform at noon, a capella group The Maccabeats will take the stage at 3 p.m., and Jewish Americana musician Joe Buchanan will perform at 5 p.m. Immediately following his set, Buchanan will lead a service from the stage.
“Our music lineup was created with the intent of having a little something for everyone, from children’s music to a country/Americana performer,” said Sharon Loftspring, Jewish Culture Fest committee co-chair.
More music will be performed during a local musician showcase at 1:15 p.m. and an Encore dance team demonstration at 4:30 p.m.
The event is designed to be family-friendly — The J’s Family Pavilion space has space for children to play, with a green space with lawn games and Gaga pits. Other family-friendly activities throughout the day include face painting, bag decorating, a photo booth, magnetic construction toys and kindness rock painting. Sasone, the Jewish community’s program for students with diverse learning needs, will also be on site, providing a sensory corner and other services to guests throughout the day.
Food vendors, each certified by Vaad HaKashruth, have committed to providing a variety of kosher offerings. The food offerings range from falafel, knishes, babka and rugelach to fajitas, pizza, sushi and ice cream.
Guests can either purchase food using credit or debit cards, or they can exchange cash at stands throughout the food pavilion.
As part of the event’s sustainable initiatives, guests are encouraged to bring their own water bottles; a water buggy will be on site for guests to refill their bottles. A variety of electric cars and bikes will be on site in the event’s Green Street and Electric Avenue area to view and test drive.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $3 for children ages 4-12 in advance, and $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 4-12 at the entrance on event day. Children under three years old get in free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at jewishculturefest.org.
Limited tickets are still available online for two different kosher wine tasting sessions led by sommelier Aaron Fry. Tickets for the 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. sessions are $36 in addition to the entrance fee to the festival. Guests must be 21 or older to participate in the wine tasting.
Parking will be available in the Aspiria Lots C, D and E, and are accessible off 115th Street. Guests are also encouraged to bring crackers, cereal and other dry snacks to donate to the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry.
The presenting sponsor of this year’s Jewish Culture Fest is the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.
More information about what to expect at Jewish Culture Fest is available at jewishculturefest.org.
Sponsors:
- Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City (Presenting Sponsor)
- Pavilion Level Sponsors
- AdventHealth
- Aristocrat Motors/Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City
- Judy and Rich Hastings
- Ro and Howard Jacobson
- Lowenstein Brothers Foundation
- Performing Artist Sponsors
- Bonnie and Herb Buchbinder
- Filtronetics, Inc.
- Olathe Ford Lincoln
- Jessica Rudnick
- Green Room Sponsors
- Charlotte and Richard Brockman
- Earl J. and Leona K. Tranin Special Fund
- Sandi and Ed Fried
- Larry Fry
- Jack Stack Barbecue
- Doris and Bill Mendel
- Jodi and Michael Novicoff
- Polsky Family Charitable Foundation
- Ruth S. and Harry Baker JCC Endowment
Food Vendors:
- Ben Levi Catering (meat)
- Congregation Beth Shalom (dairy)
- The Women’s Council of Congregation Beth Torah (pareve)
- Challah the Good Things (pareve)
- Cold Stone Creamery (dairy)
- Ellenberg Experience Catering (pareve, dairy)
- Grounded Mobile Coffee (pareve, dairy)
- Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (dairy)
- Israel Spirit (pareve)
- KansasW Sushi (pareve, dairy)
- KU Chabad (meat)
- Troop 61 (pareve)
Visual Artists
- ARTrageous Studio (Prairie Village, Kansas)
- Andy Klein Designs (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Art by C. Lari (Chesterfield, Missouri)
- Artful Creations KC (Overland Park, Kansas)
- BOLDart KC (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Barb Jacobs (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Bboggled Art (Olathe, Kansas)
- Beth Cosner Designs (Leawood, Kansas)
- Beyond Broken Mosaics (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Cakes Metal Whimsies (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Cherepak Arts (Lake Tapawingo, Missouri)
- David Balk Productions (South Lake Tahoe, California)
- Debbie Dubinsky (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Douglas A Bowles Illustration (Leawood, Kansas)
- Dragonfly Glass 18 (Houston, Texas)
- Eeta Travis Art (Baltimore, Maryland)
- Emily Newman (Overland Park, Kansas)
- FHB Glass Designs (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Fiber Fusion (Bonner Springs, Kansas)
- Glassworkbysallie (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Heartland Art Therapy (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Heidi Pitre (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Helen Apple Designs (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Illi's Pottery (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Janice Schoultz Mudd (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Jerome Castillo (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Jewelry by Jodiva (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Julie Reed Design (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Kale Van Leeuwen (Kansas City, Kansas)
- LSKC Creative (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Laurie Colahan Studio (Lenexa, Kansas)
- Lettering World (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Lisarae Photo Design (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Loreta Schmidt (Lawrence, Kansas)
- Margalit Creations (Chesterfield, Missouri)
- Maria Martin (Lawrence, Kansas)
- Megan Kasper Opulent Art (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Nancy Basinski Art (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Nictastic Art (Lenexa, Kansas)
- Off The Wall Art (Baldwin City, Kansas)
- RMK Artwork (Omaha, Nebraska)
- Rina Artworks (Leawood, Kansas)
- Rissa's Artistic Design (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (Belton, Missouri)
- Sean Ponder Ceramics (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Sharon Spillar - Spillar Studios, LLC (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Sharon Sudduth Studio (Enid, Oklahoma)
- Sheron Smith Fine Art (Kansas City, Kansas)
- Shop Beautiful (Westwood, Kansas)
- SlaboArts (Belton, Kansas)
- Smitha George Art (Olathe, Kansas)
- Taj (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Taza Domestic (Overland Park, Kansas)
- Tmiro Designs (Leawood, Kansas)
- Todd Weiner Gallery (Kansas City, Missouri)
- VK Animal Communication (Parkville, Missouri)
- Wild Tangz (Leawood, Kansas)
- Zachary Ruben Photography (Overland Park, Kansas)