The 77th Holiday Folk Fair International, America’s premiere multi-cultural festival, has been reimagined for 2020, with the event to be available online “wherever you are” starting Fri., Nov. 20 at www.FolkFair.org. This year’s theme is: Celebrate the Culture of Plants – The Seeds of Heritage.
A program of the International Institute of Wisconsin (IIW) that celebrates the cultural heritage of the people living in southeastern Wisconsin, the 2020 Holiday Folk Fair International will take place online and feature the entertainment, artisan and cooking demonstrations, and education that Fair-goers have come to cherish.
“We have decided that this year’s Holiday Folk Fair International will not be done as an in-person event due to COVID-19, but we are excited about the opportunities to share the traditions of dozens of ethnic groups that call Milwaukee and the surrounding communities home in a way that will be safe and enjoyable for all,” said Alexander Durtka, Jr., President of the IIW. “The groups that have been part of Folk Fair for years and decades are enthusiastic about the opportunities to share their heritage not only with those in Wisconsin, but throughout the world.”
The online event will feature various ethnic groups presenting their culture in multiple ways and will be broken out as follows:
DANCE/MUSICAL PERFORMANCES: Groups and individuals conduct dance and instrumental performances that depict cultures from around the world.
DANCE DEMONSTRATIONS: Viewers will be able to learn the steps to a variety of dances that they can perform.
COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS: Learn how to prepare a variety of cuisine from around the world through recipes handed down from generation to generation that you can make at home to serve to family and friends.
ARTISAN DEMONSTRATIONS: Learn how cultures celebrate and create decorations through these demonstrations that can be done in your own home.
EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS: Learn more about cultures from around the globe and how you can gain a greater understanding of your own heritage.
FOLK FAIR THROUGH THE YEARS: Performances from years past, plus long-time event participants explain how the event has impacted their life and enhanced the appreciation of their cultural heritage.
Holiday Folk Fair will be posting the various videos under the indicated categories for people to view at their convenience as well as create a daily program that will be a compilation of the different videos, with one posted each day the mornings of Friday, November 20; Saturday, November 21; and Sunday, November 22. Each program will run approximately 75 minutes.
Specific information on the 2020 Holiday Folk Fair International will also be shared on the event’s website, Facebook page, or by calling 414-225-6225.
