Holiday Folk Fair International To Host Kick Off Event
Holiday Folk Fair International, America’s premiere multi-cultural festival, will host a Welcoming Week/Kick Off event on Mon., Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. – noon in the Milwaukee City Hall Rotunda, 200 E. Wells St.
Holiday Folk Fair International, America’s premiere multi-cultural festival, will host a Welcoming Week/Kick Off event on Mon., Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. – noon in the Milwaukee City Hall Rotunda, 200 E. Wells St.
The 2017 Folk Fair theme “Celebrate the Culture of Welcome,” will be introduced at the kick off, with a goal of bringing together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. The Welcoming Week program is also designed to raise awareness of refugee and immigrant contributions and economic impact on the Milwaukee community.
Event speakers include…
- Alexander Durtka, Jr., President and CEO, International Institute of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
- Chris Schilling, Human Development Manager, Techniplas (formerly Dickten Masch Plastics®, LLC), Nashotah
- Azmi Alaeddin, Owner, Aladdin Restaurants, Milwaukee
- Charles Vang, Owner, Charles V. Vang Insurance Agency, LLC, Milwaukee
- Sarah Nketiah, Owner, J & S African Center, Milwaukee, WI
Entertainment will be provided by…
- Dnipro Ukrainian Dance Ensemble squad (Welcome Dance, featuring bread and salt)
- Stanislav (Stas) Venglevski, virtuoso and award-winning Moldavian bayanist, accordionist, and composer
- Dance Academy of Mexico
There will also be a photo exhibition showcasing refugees from around the globe and their hope for tomorrow.
“Our Welcoming Week/Kick Off event is a wonderful introduction to all that is represented at Holiday Folk Fair International,” Durtka said. “Our speakers, immigrant entrepreneurs, will share their challenges and success stories as it relates to establishing their businesses, plus discuss the economic impact upon the greater Milwaukee in general and their specific ethnic communities in particular. In addition, our entertainment will showcase performances that underscore the Folk Fair theme.”
A program of the International Institute of Wisconsin, Holiday Folk Fair International will be held Fri., Nov. 17 – Sun., Nov. 19, 2017 at the State Fair Park Exposition Center in West Allis, Wis. Recognizing the cultural heritage of the people living in southeastern Wisconsin, the 2017 theme, “Celebrate the Culture of Welcome,” will allow Fair-goers the opportunity to learn the traditions and symbolism of cultures as it relates to welcoming individuals and how it is incorporated into music, food, dance, arts, and crafts.
Special attractions in 2017 include invited international performers and artisans, photographic exhibits, the Artisan corner, the Kohl’s Color Wheels 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 International Stage where young people perform their ethnic dances, the Tanzhauz (Music Pavilion) where attendees dance and sing along with a variety of musical styling’s, 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 Construction Chef’s Stage featuring local chefs preparing traditional cuisine.
Hours on Fri., Nov. 17 are 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 18; and 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 19.
Advance tickets will be sold for $10 each, with family four-packs for $36, and available for purchase on-line at www.folkfair.org. Admission at the gate will be $12 for adults; $8 for children ages 6 to 12; children under the age of five will be admitted at no charge. Those 62 and over will be admitted for $10, and all military personnel with a military ID card will be admitted free.
For more information on the 2017 Holiday Folk Fair International, visit www.folkfair.org or call the International Institute of Wisconsin at 414-225-6225.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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