Ever heard of Ramenfest? Me neither, leastways not before last week. Still not sure how it came by the name, the only ramen I came across was soaking up the sun in a kiddie pool.
Probably should have asked more questions. Was playing the old infinite scroll game and came across a flyer, seemed peculiar enough that I had to check it out.
Billing itself as the American Solidarity Movement's People's Summit, it promised potions & piracy, education on Louisville activism, sorcery & skullduggery, as well as highlighting local organizations for two days in Huston Quinn Park.
According to their Instagram, the American Solidarity Movement is "a mutual aid network coalition focused on uniting the local activism community." What better way to unite a community than throw a party?
Got there Saturday afternoon and discovered it was quite a shindig, with food, music, graffiti, and a skateboarding competition in addition to the local organizations and artists.
Basically a good old fashioned block party. With live music by local bands, one group even said they walked to the park to play their set.
Was told "the young people" had organized the fun, and Gen Z was definitely well represented, both onstage and moshing in the crowd.
There was a whole wizards vs pirates thing going on that I never got the full story on, but it made for lots of people in costume. Still not sure how the skateboarding Pikachu fit into all that.
Used to live in the neighborhood myself but there wasn't anything like Ramenfest then, this marked the third year of the festivities.
The music ran until 10 or 11 pm both days but the ringing in my ears got to me well before then.
Still going to have to give it four thumbs up.
More of this please, it rocked!