Holiday Folk Fair International to Add Three to Wall of Honor

MILWAUKEE, WI – Three long-serving individuals will be added to the Holiday Folk Fair International Volunteer Wall of Honor during the 81st annual event, which will be held Fri., Nov. 22 – Sun., Nov. 24, 2018, at the Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis.

The following people will be recognized during the event’s opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 22:

• Sophia Michalovitz: For 37 years, Sophia (Gasbarre) Michalovitz has participated in the Holiday Folk Fair International with a tireless effort and commitment to preserving Italian culture. She has helped run the food booth and the Italian marketplace booth, led cooking demos, and, most importantly, been part of the event’s Friday Education Day since it began through her work on the Italian Community Center Culture Committee.
• Susan Mikos: An active member of the Milwaukee Polish community since 1980, Mikos has spent much volunteer time being active in ethnic organizations, including “Polanki” (the Polish Women’s Cultural Club of Milwaukee), the Polish Center of Wisconsin, Polish Fest, and Holiday Folk Fair International. She has served in many Polanki officer and board positions and is presently responsible for publicity and the website. Mikos has worked in the Polanki Library since its opening in 1999 and served on the board and as an officer of the Polish Heritage Alliance, including chairing its Cultural Committee. She is the author of “Poles in Wisconsin” and of several other publications related to Polish culture, helping to promote Polish culture in the greater Milwaukee community. Over the years, she has prepared cultural exhibits at the Holiday Folk Fair and volunteered in Polanki’s marketplace and food booths.
• Jovo Potkonjak: Participating in the Holiday Folk Fair International since age 14, Potkonjak has performed with multiple ensembles and ethnicities throughout the years. He became director of the Sumadija Serbian Folk Dance Ensemble in 1989 and directed various groups, including for his children, throughout the 2000s. Potkonjak’s dedication to the Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Community and the perpetuation of Serbian culture through community events such as the Holiday Folk Fair have set the groundwork for others within the community to continue to build on his years of accomplishments.

A program of the International Institute of Wisconsin, Holiday Folk Fair International celebrates the cultural heritage of the people living in southeastern Wisconsin. This year’s theme, “Celebrate the Culture of Traditional Art,” will allow Fairgoers to explore how traditional art represents one’s cultural heritage, as it conveys traditions, values, and beliefs. The featured food at the 2024 event will be traditional desserts, which have a historical significance to many cultural groups.

Special attractions in 2024 include invited international performers and artisans, featuring Folk Ensemble Lindyo from Croatia and Rocky Mountain Express from Utah, photographic exhibits, cultural murals produced by Milwaukee Public Schools students, the Artisan Corner, the Dirty Kettle Native American interactive display, the Wisconsin Woodturners, a Children’s Area presented by Leafguard, a bonsai exhibit, a Naturalization Ceremony on Nov. 22, a Youth Chess Tournament on Nov. 23, and an Interdenominational Religious Service on Nov. 24.

The three-day event features the All Nations Theater with traditional music and dance; the World Café offering traditional dishes; the Tanzhauz, 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 American Culinary Federation Chefs of Milwaukee Chefs Stage presented by TightSeal Exteriors and Baths featuring local chefs preparing traditional cuisine.

Hours are 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 22; 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 23; and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 24.

Advance tickets can be purchased for $13 through Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Folk Fair website (https://folkfair.org/admission/) and from all participating ethnic groups. There are no refunds. Admission at the gate is $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 2024 Holiday Folk Fair International, visit www.folkfair.org or call 414-225-6225.