Special Events Showcased at Holiday Folk Fair International

A variety of special events and exhibits will be highlighted throughout the grounds at the 69th annual Holiday Folk Fair International, America’s premiere multi-cultural festival, to be held Fri., Nov. 16 – Sun., Nov. 18, 2012, at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis.

The Holiday Folk Fair International’s annual “Cultural Awareness Program” on Fri., Nov. 18, will give more than 3,000 fourth through eighth grade students and teachers an opportunity to personally experience global connections through ethnic displays, workshops, mini language and genealogy classes, exhibits and demonstrations, music and dance performances, storytelling, food sampling, and a marketplace.

Approximately 300 individuals will accept the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship by participating in the Holiday Folk Fair International’s annual Naturalization Ceremony on Sat., Nov. 17, at 10:30 a.m.

The Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation will conduct a tournament at Folk Fair on Sat., Nov. 17, with individual and team trophies presented in three classes. The first round will commence at 11:00 a.m., with the awards ceremony scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The fee is $10 per player in advance, and $15 for on-site registration. Players can register at www.wisconsinscholasticchess.org, with payment made at the event. Additional information is available online or by calling 262-573-5624.

The 11th annual Around The World 5K Run/Walk will be held Sun., Nov. 18, at 9:00 a.m. Starting and finishing near the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park, race proceeds will provide educational opportunities to help children take pride in their own cultures while developing respect and tolerance for other cultures. The pre-registration fee is $18.00 (received before Nov. 9) or $25.00 day of race. Online registration is at www.folkfair.org, or call the Holiday Folk Fair International at 414-225-6225. The registration package includes a long-sleeve T-shirt, light refreshments, and free Holiday Folk Fair International admission.

An interdenominational religious service that brings a variety of ethnic groups together will be held Sun., Nov. 18, at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public.

Produced by the International Institute of Wisconsin, Holiday Folk Fair International celebrates the cultural heritage of the people living in southeastern Wisconsin. This year’s theme, “Celebrate the Culture of the Story,” will allow Fair-goers the opportunity to learn the ways in which music, food, dance, and art explain a culture’s history and traditions.

Special attractions at this year’s event include the “One World, One People” photo exhibit, the Sister Cities International Young Artists and Authors Showcase, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites photo exhibit, an Old World Wisconsin display area, 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 Music Pavilion with a variety of musical styles, 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 Cooking Demonstration Stage featuring local chefs preparing traditional cuisine.

Hours on Fri., Nov. 16 are 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 17; and 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 18. Advance tickets will be sold for $10 each, with family four-packs for $36, and can be purchased 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 2012 Holiday Folk Fair International, visit www.folkfair.org or call the International Institute of Wisconsin at 414-225-6220.