Holiday Folk Fair International to Feature Music and Dance

MILWAUKEE, WI ⎯ Dancers, vocalists, and musicians representing cultures from around the world will perform daily at the 80th annual Holiday Folk Fair International, America’s premiere multi-cultural festival, to be held Fri., Nov. 17 – Sun., Nov. 19, 2023, Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis.

The All Nations Theater will host the opening and closing ceremonies along with dancing by more than 30 adult and youth performance groups, including the Bulgarian, Donauschwaben, Filipino, Italian, Latvian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, and Turkish.

Special guests performing in the All Nations Theater in 2023 are Venezuela Danzas y Tambor (Venezuela Dances and Drum), a Florida based performance group that is the only Venezuelan folkloric group that belongs to the International Council of Organizations of Folklore and Traditional Arts Festivals. Featuring 14 performers, the group is comprised of dancers and musicians who will perform all three days of the event.

The Young People’s Showcase on Sun., Nov. 19, will offer performances at 11:15 a.m. and 12:45 a.m. in the All Nations Theater, with the dancing talent of children from 17 groups, including the Czech, Lithuanian, Pomeranian, Scottish, Thai, and Ukrainian.

The Tanzhaus (Music Pavilion), presented by Mad City Windows and Baths, will allow attendees to dance and sing along to a variety of musical styles. Returning to the Folk Fair Tanzhaus stage will be the Bob Breuer Polka Band; Mariachi Garibaldi, a Mexican musical ensemble; Paddygrass, performing Irish, bluegrass, and gospel; the Orkestar Sloboda, specializing in Serbian and Balkan music; Polish Fusion, a high energy polka band; and Prazna Flasa, featuring Balkan music.

In addition, adult, youth, and children’s groups will dance in the Tanzhaus throughout the weekend, including the African American, Chinese, Croatian, Irish, Mexican, and Polynesian.

The Coffee House provides those in attendance the opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and baked goods while listening to talented musicians from throughout the world. Groups performing during Holiday Folk Fair International include new performers Goda Vänner (Swedish) and Sa-Mool-Nol-Ee (Korean).

Goda Vänner, which means “Good Friends” in Swedish, is a group that performs traditional Swedish folk music played on fiddles, mandolins, and guitar.

Samul nori is a genre of percussion music that originated in Korea. The word samul means “four objects,” while nori means “play.” Samul nori is performed with four traditional Korean musical instruments: Kkwaenggwari, a small gong; Jing, a larger gong; Janggu, an hourglass-shaped drum; and Buk, a barrel drum similar to the bass drum.

In addition, Brian Bauman (German), Michelangelo (Variety), and a group performing traditional Rohingya music are returning to the Coffeehouse stage.

A program of the International Institute of Wisconsin (IIW), Holiday Folk Fair International celebrates the cultural heritage of the people living in southeastern Wisconsin. The 2023 theme, “Celebrate the Culture of Traditional Dress,” will allow Fairgoers the opportunity to explore how groups share their culture and traditions through the apparel they wear. The featured food at the 2023 event will be rice, considered one of the most important foods in the world.

Special attractions in 2023 include invited cultural performers and artisans, photographic exhibits, cultural murals produced by Milwaukee Public Schools students, the Artisan corner, the Dirty Kettle Native American interactive display, the Wisconsin Woodturners, and a bonsai exhibit.

The three-day event features the All Nations Theater with traditional music and dance; the World Café offering traditional dishes; the Tanzhaus where attendees dance and sing along with a variety of musical stylings; the Coffee House where patrons enjoy a beverage and baked goods while listening to talented musicians; Heritage Lane with unique traditions and customs through interactive exhibits; the International Bazaar, where cultural artifacts create a unique shopping experience; and the Callen Chef’s Stage featuring local chefs preparing traditional cuisine.

Hours will be 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 17; 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 18; and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 19.

Advance tickets, which are available for purchase at the Folk Fair website, are $13 each for eight years old and up. Admission at the gate will be $16 for ages 8 – 61, with children up to age seven admitted at no charge. Those 62 and over will be admitted for $14, and all military personnel with a military ID card will be admitted free.

For more information on the 2023 Holiday Folk Fair International, visit www.folkfair.org or call 414-225-6225.