Pictures of the Festival: Sunday August 21, 2011

Today was the last day of the 2011 Midwest Folklife Festival. We had many wonderful artists come this year and we look forward to next years Festival! Here are some photos of today's festivities!

We had many wonderful artists grace our main stage with lively music and heartfelt songs!

We had an opportunity to learn from our artists in workshops and demonstrations!

And see their artwork up close and personal at their booths!


The Festival was a wonderful event and we look forward to it next year! Be sure to check back for next year's location and updates!

Sunday at the Midwest Folklife Festival

The day began with an opening ceremony by Elliott Funmaker who sang a traditional Ho Chunk song to start off the Festival, and then Irish and Scottish songs played and sang by Laura MacKenzie and Ross Sutter. The Wi Dells Singers and Dancers performed traditional Ho Chunk songs and dances at Farwell Hall, then I went to see some amazing African drumming at the main stage before a short walk to Plum Grove Church for a moving talk about Songs and Music of Irish Immigration. Then the Monroe Swiss Singers took the stage to sing some traditional Swiss songs, I then stopped to listen to some Hmong stories and right now I'm listening to some polka played by the Tuba Dan Band. Next up? Southern Indiana band Grease Gravy takes the stage!

Pictures of the Festival: Saturday August 20, 2011

Today was the first day of the 2011 Midwest Folklife Festival at Folklore Village in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The Festival continues tomorrow Sunday August 21st and is FREE! We have artists coming from all over the Midwest to share their stories, heritage and traditions with us. Here are some photos from today's happenings!

We had many wonderful artists come to sing, play and dance for the Festival...

We also had artists come to demonstrate their artwork...

And even had delicious food ways demonstrations!

It was a lovely day at Folklore Village! The sun was shining and we had incredible artists come to share their art with us! A short rain shower happened upon us at the end of the Festival and gave us a double rainbow right above Folklore Village!

Saturday at the Midwest Folklife Festival

The first day of the Festival began with sunshine, Los Pichardo and Irish tin whistle lessons. Next came immigration stories and a tune by Southern Wisconsin Old Time Fiddlers. After that I listened to some Klezmer music by Yid Vicious and a stopped for a quick bite of Ethiopian Injera. I swung by Plum Grove Church to get a lesson on fiddle making and then popped by Farwell Hall for delicious Ho Chunk food traditions. I then stopped and listened to the beautiful voice of Mai Zong Vue and am now listening to the smooth south sounds of Grease Gravy. I think next I'll stop and learn some Italian traditional food ways...

What to expect at the Midwest Folklife Festival

The Festival will be beginning on Saturday August 20^th rain or shine! Feel free to bring chairs, a blanket and maybe even a picnic basket! Food and drink will be available for purchase along with a tent with benches to eat at. On Saturday a day-long workshop for K-12 teachers will be taking place as well as a UW-Madison class whose students will be observing, documenting and volunteering at the festival. Families are invited to the Family Learning Tent where they can take part in cultural activities and special hands-on sessions with festival artists! Explore the cultural life of Wisconsin at the Connection through Traditions Exhibit and take part in the Traditional Arts Indiana Exhibit!

The Festival begins this Saturday August 20^th and continues through Sunday August 21^st. Come to Folklore Village in Dodgeville Wisconsin and experience song, dance and traditional foodways of the Midwest!

Check out our website for more details!

Folklore Village: Passing It On

 

In 1966 Folklore Village was created and directed by Jane Farwell in Dodgeville Wisconsin. Folklore Villages was first designed with the slogan “Connecting the generations with a world of traditions” and this is something that it still continues to do today! Folklore Village is a nationally recognized folk arts and culture center and has been a place for people of all ages to gather and learn traditional folkways. Folklore Village has been host to potlucks, social dances, classes, workshops, exhibits and historic preservation projects. Set within the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin, Folklore Village sits upon 94 beautiful acres which includes the Tall Grass Prairie Restoration Project, rustic bunkhouses, Plum Grove Church, Wakefield School, the 1848 Wisconsin home of Aslak Olsen Lie and Farwell Hall. Come to Dodgeville Wisconsin to experience the wonder of Folklore Village!

Want to see more before the Festival this weekend? Check out their website at folklorevillage.org

Artists from Illinois: Los Pichardo & Ricardo Salazar

Los Pichardo is an Oak Park family group led by Víctor Pichardo, a two times Grammy nominee Mexican folk musician, with over thirty years of experience. Victor has passed his tradition to his children Yahví, Zacbé and Gabriella since they were little. They specialize in Mexican SON, a style of music that represents all of the regions of Mexico as it blends components of its Indigenous, European and African heritage. 

Ricardo Salazar

Follow this link to his video!