Does your area have folk life festivals?

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Hi--Does your area have a folklife festival? Two frirnds of mine are haveing their 2nd annual one in our area June 10th & 11th, 2000 on our courthouse lawn! They are haveing basketmakeing, soapmaking, furnituremakeing, papermakeing, spinning, potterymakeing, natural herbs, broommakeing, kettlecorn, weaving, homemade rootbear, tatting, a civil war-era encampment, & live music. Also historical presenters in period dress will demonstrate the skills necessary for pioneers to live & work in the mid-1800's. Last year it was a huge success! We believe it will be even better this year! I was wondering if your have something like this in your area/ how it is received/ what all do you have & do? Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), May 11, 2000

Answers

Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne Indiana every summer has about the same as you mentioned.

Also the apple festival every October in Kendallville Indiana has many similar things on a smaller scale.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), May 11, 2000.


New Hampshire has several things like that, but the closest one to us is Franklin Frontier Days. It isn't quite as big as these others sound like, but is a lot of fun -- in the middle of September.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 11, 2000.

Sonda, which town is this in? We live in KS and it sounds like alot of fun.

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), May 11, 2000.

Hi this is in Cottonwood Falls, Ks. Go to the post about the soda fountains --& I posted web sites about the area! If ya need more information let me know--Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), May 11, 2000.

I'm sorry the thread is Small Towns that has the web sites--sorry! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), May 11, 2000.


Well...Seattle has a huge one...a big civic event with music, etc..has for over 20 years, maybe 30? I never go as I can't deal with crowds and parking (and litter, and attitudes, etc.) I don't think this is exactly what most people on here would consider "folk life" though, as it has a lot of world music and more like international folk stuff. It's every Memorial Day weekend (kind of like Bumbershoot is every Labor Day weekend). KUOW, a National Public Radio affiliated radio station broadcasts a lot of it on the web, if you would be interested in tuning in and hearing the music.

We have a few wonderful more-like-homesteading fairs around Puget Sound: The Evergreen State Fair in Monroe and the Puyallup Fair in you guessed it, Puyallup (pronounced: Pew Allup)which is the biggest state fair, both are major livestock exhibitions, which is great considering they are in the shadow of Seattle. These happen late August-early September. There is also a fair at Marymoor Park in Redmond (home of Microsoft!) on an old farmstead. I have been asked to spin at it a few times. That's on the Fourth of July weekend.

Just thought I would post in case anyone around here would be interested in going. A lot of city people go to these, which is nice. They learn that milk comes from cows, and not just 7-11...

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), May 11, 2000.


Mountain View, Arkansas has a folk festival each fall, complete with outhouse races and a bean cooking contest. Of course there are lots people making music around the courthouse, and many crafts are for sale. Usually goes down around the first of September.

nmays

-- N Mays (mays@raptor.afsc.k12.ar.us), May 12, 2000.


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