Holiday Folk Fair International to Feature Music and Dance

MILWAUKEE, WI – Dancers, vocalists, and musicians representing cultures from around the world will perform daily at the 82nd annual Holiday Folk Fair International, America’s premiere multi-cultural festival, to be held Fri., Nov. 21 – Sun., Nov. 23, 2025, at Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis.

The All Nations Theater, which will also host the opening and closing ceremonies, features dancing by more than 25 adult and youth performance groups, including the African American, Donauschwaben, Filipino, Mexican, Romanian, and Ukrainian. In addition, a special “Grand Entry” dance will be done daily at select times featuring performers from the participating adult dance groups.

Special guests performing in the All Nations Theater all three days are the Folk Song and Dance Ensemble Lublin and the American Rhythm Folk Ensemble from Utah.

Founded in 1948, the Folk Song and Dance Ensemble LUBLIN is one of the oldest and largest folklore ensembles in Poland and Europe. Currently, it educates over 500 artistic members ranked in 16 age groups from 5 to 35 years old. “Lublin” is a cultural ambassador of its country and region, giving Polish folklore to people from almost all continents.

In its history, Lublin has presented more than 7,600 concerts, and the group is a laureate of a huge number of festivals in Poland and abroad. During more than 240 artistic journeys, it has visited 53 countries. On the occasion of its 75th anniversary in 2023, the ensemble was awarded the Medal of Merit for the City of Lublin. In 2024, it received the Medal of the 550th Anniversary of the Lublin Voivode ship and the Artistic Award of the City of Lublin for the organization of the Diamond Jubilee, during which almost 700 artists performed.

The American Rhythm Folk Ensemble, founded in 2000, performs at various public and private venues, competing in and winning numerous titles at clogging competitions throughout the United States. In 2011, the group performed at its first international folk festival in Rexburg, Idaho, and in 2012, the group took its first international tour to France and Spain. The American Rhythm Folk Ensemble has participated in international folk festivals throughout the world, where the group loves learning about the cultures of the world, sharing its love for its culture, and meeting many international friends. Among its elite dancers are some of the country’s best cloggers, with dancers also trained in regional and national folk dances to present a well-rounded and accurate historical review of the traditional dance styles of the United States.

In addition, a special performance highlighting Japanese entertainers will take place at 12:50 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, featuring the Milwaukee Taiko Group Hibiki (Taiko drummers) and Awa Odori dancers (traditional folk dancers from the Tokushima Prefecture).

The Young People’s Showcase on Sun., Nov. 23, will offer performances at 11:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. in the All Nations Theater, with the dancing talent of children from 16 groups, including the Chinese, Greek, Italian, Polish, Tatra Slovak, and Thai.

The Tanzhaus (Music Pavilion) will allow attendees to dance and sing along to a variety of musical styles. This includes The American Rhythm Folk Ensemble’s bluegrass band featuring fiddles, banjo, mandolin, bass, harmonica, guitar, banjitar, percussion, and vocalists. The group, which will also perform daily in the Coffeehouse, has a repertoire that features a respect for the group’s cultural roots as well as a desire to please and entertain on stage.

Returning to the Folk Fair Tanzhaus stage will be the Bob Breuer Polka Band; Paddygrass, performing Irish, bluegrass, and gospel; the Orkestar Sloboda, specializing in Serbian and Balkan music; Polish Fusion, a high-energy polka band; and Prazna Flasa, featuring Balkan music.

In addition, adult, youth, and children’s groups will dance in the Tanzhaus throughout the weekend, including Croatian, Czech Sokol, Irish, Polynesian, Serbian, and Turkish.

The Coffee House provides those in attendance the opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and baked goods while listening to talented musicians and singers from throughout the world. Groups performing during Holiday Folk Fair International include several new performers:

• The Chicago Koto Group (stringed instrument performers), founded in 1985 to promote Japanese culture.
• Mackenzie Krewal, a traditional Irish singer from Waukesha who competed in the 2024 Midwest Championship for traditional Irish music, finishing in first place and one of four singers from the United States invited to compete in the World Championships in Wexford, Ireland.
• Tune Club, members of the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra, performing Italian songs.
• Philippine Center Strummers, 24 performers ranging in age from the 70s to 86 years old, singing and playing the ukulele, accompanied by a bass player and percussionists.
• GAHBEEYAH, four performers wearing traditional attire and playing Lithuanian folk instruments.

In addition, the Filipino-American Himig Cultural Choir and MichaelAngelo (Variety) are returning to the Coffeehouse stage.

A program of the International Institute of Wisconsin (IIW), Holiday Folk Fair International celebrates the cultural heritage of the people living in southeastern Wisconsin. This year’s theme, “Celebrate the Culture of Traditional Music,” will allow Fairgoers to explore how traditional music represents one’s cultural heritage. The featured food at the 2025 event will be Celebratory Cultural Foods, which are living links to cultural heritage and traditions and an integral part of any celebration in many cultures.

Special attractions include invited international performers from Poland and Utah plus groups representing Japan, photographic exhibits, cultural murals produced by Milwaukee Public Schools students, the Artisan Corner, the Dirty Kettle Native American interactive display, the Milwaukee Area Woodturners, a Children’s Area, a bonsai exhibit, a Naturalization Ceremony on Nov. 21, Senior Day activities for those 62 and over on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23, a Youth Chess Tournament on Nov. 22, and an Interdenominational Religious Service on Nov. 23.

The three-day event features the All Nations Theater with traditional music and dance, plus the opening and closing ceremonies; 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 Chef’s Stage presented by TightSeal Exteriors and Baths featuring local chefs preparing traditional cuisine.

Advance tickets can be purchased through Thurs., Nov. 20, at the Folk Fair website (https://folkfair.org/admission/) – $13 each for those eight years old to age 61 and $12 for those age 62 and up. Tickets can also be purchased from all participating ethnic groups. Groups of 20 or more may purchase tickets at $11 each. There are no refunds.

Admission at the gate will be $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.

Hours will be 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 21; 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 22; and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 23.

For more information on the 2025 Holiday Folk Fair International, visit www.folkfair.org or call 414-225-6225.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.