Folklore Village has announced that their 72nd Annual Festival of Christmas and Midwinter Traditions will include themes of Slavic and Balkan culture this year (Dec. 28 – Jan. 1).
Each year, this festival features a few core cultural themes, and one of this year’s themes is Slavic and Balkan culture. Headlining the Slavic and Balkan side of the festival are Sarah Jagoda Larsson and Sarina Partridge, vocal instructors and performers from the Twin Cities who specialize in Jewish and Slavic polyphonic singing from Eastern Europe. Sarah and Sarina will be leading vocal workshops throughout the festival week.
The festival also features craft workshops on pysanky (Slavic egg decorating–Dec. 29) and on Polish paper ornament making (Dec. 30).
Michael Kuharski, a Balkan folkdancer and producer of the Madison Folk Ball, joins the festivities on Dec. 30 for a Balkan dance workshop. Later that evening, the festival will have a Polish Wigilia-style catered dinner followed by a Balkan-themed party led by Michael Kuharski and Sarah and Sarina, who perform as Nanilo.
The festival also features other kinds of music, dance and craft workshops, cultural meals and afternoon teas, and a unique New Year’s Eve party on the theme ‘Future Folk.’ The other cultural theme for this year’s festival is focused on Mexican culture and activities surrounding this theme will also be available.
Visit www.folklorevillage.org for more information and to register. Please note that pre-registration is required, and contact Folklore Village by Dec. 13 to take advantage of early-bird prices. Need-based and work-exchange scholarships are available to off-set festival costs, so don’t hesitate to inquire. Folklore Village is located between Ridgeway, WI and Dodgeville, WI and about 40 miles west of Madison, WI.
This event is not sponsored by CREECA.