Holiday Folk Fair International brings the world to Milwaukee

VISIT THE 63rd annual Holiday Folk Fair International, Nov. 17-19, and travel around the globe at one convenient location.

Held in the Wisconsin Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., the three-day celebration features mouth-watering foods, toe-tapping music, hand-clapping dance performances, and a vast array of exhibits and merchandise promoting cultural understanding.

Produced by the International Institute of Wisconsin, a nonprofit social service organization dedicated to racial, cultural and ethnic understanding, the award-winning event is one of the largest festivals of its kind, drawing visitors from throughout the Midwest.

The theme, “Celebrate the Carriers of Culture,” recognizes the integral role culture plays in our lives.

Al Durtka, president of the International Institute of Wisconsin, points out, “We are all carriers of culture. Another example of a carrier of culture is a basket. Woven in a unique way by each cultural group, a basket can hold anything from fish to flowers to an infant.”

Food also can be a carrier of culture, such as the “food wrappers” found in a variety of cuisines, whether tortillas, egg roll skins, lefse or sarma.

After all, drawing visitors to the Folk Fair year after year is the wide variety of traditional dishes in the World Café. Numerous food booths offer appetizers, main dishes, sandwiches and desserts, all priced to encourage sampling. At the Coffee House, coffee or tea, sweet treats and music are the specialties.

The International Bazaar is the perfect place for holiday shopping. Booths decorated to represent the featured country offer items that showcase artistic traditions and handicrafts.

On Heritage Lane, visitors can interact with ethnic volunteers to learn about the customs and traditions of many different cultures. “Passports” are available for children, who thrill at having them stamped at the many intricately decorated booths. At the outdoor Revolutionary War Encampment, fair-goers also can ask questions of re-enactors from both sides of the conflict.

Regularly scheduled shows at the All Nations Theater feature groups performing traditional music and dance with flair, drama and color. This years featured performers are from the Native Alaskan Heritage Center.

At the Folk Fair’s International Stage, attention focuses on dance performances by young people.

The Music Pavilion features an array of musical groups. Enjoy Johnny Hoffman and The Herzbuben with German dance music, Izvor with “turbo-folk,” as well as traditional Balkan folk dance music.

Three special photographic exhibits this year offer dramatic displays of Icelandic textiles, portraits of Hmong Women, and Heritage Sites of Japan. A display of Bonsai also offers a contemplative Folk Fair experience.

On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., the Folk Fair holds its traditional naturalization ceremony of hundreds of individuals. Other regular Folk Fair events include the Education Day/Cultural Awareness Program held on Friday for fourth- through eighth-grade students from the Greater Milwaukee area.

On Sunday, the Around the World 5k Run/Walk starts at 9 a.m. For registration information, phone 414-225-6225 or register online at www.active.com. Also on Sunday, a religious service will be held Sunday at 10 a.m. A raffle is included in the ticket price, and winners need not be present at Sunday’s 6:30 p.m. drawing.

Folk Fair hours are 3-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 at the door, $8 in advance for adults, $8 for children 6-12, and children five and under are free. For further information, Family Fun 4-Pack, group and tour rates, and special requests, phone the Folk Fair Hotline at 414-225-6225,

1-800-FAIR-INTL, or visit www.folkfair.org. Ticket outlets for advance sales are Park Bank and Usinger’s Famous Sausage, 1030 N. Old World 3rd St.