RICHMOND, VA (National Folk Festival) - The
National Folk Festival, the nation's oldest multi-cultural traditional arts celebration, opens this weekend, October 13 - 15, along the banks of the
James River in Richmond, Virginia. The free, three-day festival will feature more than 30 performing groups on seven different stages, with this year's special focus being on the musical traditions of the Gulf Coast.
"The National Folk Festival, first held in St. Louis in 1934, is the longest-running, most diverse celebration of traditional arts in the country," said Julia Olin, executive director of The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), the nation's premier folk and traditional arts presenting organization. "It's an exhilarating weekend immersion in the richness and variety of American culture at its best - performances, dancing, workshops, crafts demonstrations, puppetry, regional and ethnic foods, family activities and a folk arts marketplace. The diversity of the festival's lineup will make your head spin. This is America's party and everybody is invited."
In addition to the 30 different performing groups, the 68th National Folk Festival will also feature a Traditional Craft Demonstration Area themed "Working Arts of Virginia." The area focuses on the many rich occupational traditions of the Commonwealth through demonstrations, music, and the oral tradition. The area will bring together some of the finest and most skilled tradition bearers from all corners of Virginia, including the coalfields of Appalachia, the tobacco farms of Southside, the fishing waters of the Chesapeake Bay, and even the retired workers from the historic Tredegar Iron Works, site of the "Working Arts of Virginia" activities.
In addition to the Traditional Craft Demonstration Area, there will be a folk arts marketplace and ethnic food court. The festival also offers a family area with performances and activities for all ages.
"Richmond is honored to host this prestigious national event, said Lisa Sims, local festival director. "This incredible gathering of traditional artists offers something for everyone and I'm sure all who attend will be delighted - and those who don't attend will surely wish they had."
For more information about the National Folk Festival, please logon to https://www.nationalfolkfestival.com or call (804) 788-6466.
