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Weekend of Cultural Celebrations at the Arts Council’s 44th Annual International Folk Festival

Updated: Mar 1, 2023

[Fayetteville, North Carolina] – The Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County (Arts Council) releases an incredible lineup of awe-inspiring cultural artistry and cuisines for the Arts Council’s 44th Annual International Folk Festival this Friday, September 23rd through Sunday, September 25th, 2022, at Festival Park and Historic Downtown Fayetteville.



The most anticipated, longest running multicultural event in the region presents over 30+ Cultural Groups from every corner of the world that have gathered to celebrate the richness of our diverse heritage as ONE COMMUNITY. The free, 3-day event is jam-packed with cultural festivities and exhibitions in the visual, performing, and culinary arts.


“The Arts Council is honored to be able to gather over 30+ Cultural Groups to unite and celebrate their heritage through our love and appreciation for the ARTS,” says Bob Pinson, Interim President and CEO of the Arts Council. “Our festival continues to bring communities together to experience different cultures and embrace the differences that make us unique.”


Now in its 44th year, the International Folk Festival continues to impact the cultural arts sector throughout the region by providing quality, culturally enriched programming that serves as a platform for the most innovative and skillful visual and performing artists from around the world to connect with broader audiences and to display their talents across many disciplines and art forms.

2022 Feature Line-up



4th Friday Fiesta Latina

Friday, Sept 23rd | 6pm-9pm | Downtown Fayetteville



Cool Spring Downtown District honors the Hispanic culture with the 4th Friday Fiesta Latina that celebrates diversity and inclusion through entertainment, food trucks, trolley rides, stores, restaurants, plus more than 50+ vendors.


For more information, visit visitdowntownfayetteville.com/events/7672/.


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Faces of Colombia: The Invisible Communities

Works by Donna Slade


Friday, Sept 23rd | Opening Reception 6pm-9pm | The Arts Center


Heritage Exhibit Duration Sept 23 - Oct 29, 2022


As part of a volunteer peace delegation with Witness for Peace, Donna Slade traveled to Colombia, South America to capture a revealing account of how conditions under an oppressive government have created violence, displacement, and economic insecurity, particularly for Afro-Colombian and Indigenous people.


For more information, visit WeAreTheARTS.com/colombia.


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Around The World Run

Saturday, Sept 24th | Cape Fear Botanical Garden


Registration 6:30am | Race 7:30am


Dedicated to the global mission of Civil Affairs Soldiers and their families, runners gather each year to raise funds for the FOCA Scholarship Fund that awards merit and needs-based scholarships to spouses and children.



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Parade of Nations

Saturday, Sept 24th | Downtown Fayetteville


Pre-Parade Showcase | 9am-10am

Parade of Nations | 10am-12n


The Pre-Parade Showcase features music and dance exhibitions by international and local groups and bands.


Catch the excitement at the Parade of Nations returning with an amazing line-up of over 30+ Cultural Groups from around the world giving an action-packed display of festive floats and performances in their vibrant traditional costumes.


For more information, visit WeAreTheARTS.com/parade.


Cultural Groups include:

​Army Ground Forces Band


Hawaii


Native America


Guam/Marianas Islands


Puerto Rico


FSU Visiting International Students


UNC Pembroke


Belize


Caribbean American Connection


India

Azerbaijan


Latin Dance


Ghana


Scotland


Spice Islands (Caribbean)


Colombia


Japan


Jamaica


Spain


Okinawa


Greece

Brazil


Nigeria


Panama


Mexico


Venezuela


Korea


Nicaragua


Philippines


Honduras


Ireland

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General Festival Features

Saturday, Sept 24th & Sunday, Sept 25th

12n-7p | Festival Park



Experience exquisite and authentic international cuisines that are inspired by traditional recipes from every corner of the world.


For more information, visit WeAreTheARTS.com/cuisine.


International Cuisine Vendors include:

​Thailand


India: Dosa on Wheels


Peru: Peruvian Club of Fayetteville


France: France Heritage Club


India: Indian Temple


Latino: II Lions FC Foundation


Grenada: Caribbean Islanders NC


Puerto Rico


Guyana


Haiti: Fusion Grill LLC


Jamaica: Friends of Jamaica

Mexico: Mexican Cultural Association


Native America: Hawke's Medicine Wheel


Belize: Belizean Connection of Fayetteville


Liberia: Theresa nah education Foundation


Okinawa: Fayetteville Okinawa Kenjinkai


Ghana: Ghana Association of Fayetteville


Philippine: Philippine American Club of Fayetteville


Caribbean: Caribbean Connections


Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan Friendship Organization

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The festival flourishes with juried art vendors and unique cultural art & crafts created by skilled artisans showcasing their diverse creativity in ceramics, drawings, glass, jewelry, metalwork, fabrics, photography, sculptures, and more.


For more information, visit WeAreTheARTS.com/artsmarket.



Electrifying cultural music, dance, and performance exhibitions fill the festival reflecting the diversity of our cultural identity through all genres of entertainment.


For more information, visit WeAreTheARTS.com/entertain.


Entertainment includes:

Magician Tain Collins


Native American Cultural Showcase


NC Brazilian Arts Project


Silver Drummer Girl


Colombian Takiri Group


Mexico


Jef the Mime


Animatrixx Break Dancing


Balloon Twister


Airborne Aerialists


Musical Wanderer Alex Weiss


Panama

Africa Unplugged – Drum Ensemble


SERNC Poetry Showcase


Hawaii (Durham)


Fayetteville Latin Dance


Japan Martial Arts


Okinawa Drummers


Dreamville Dance Company


Hawaii (Fayetteville)


El Cardenal


India


Kenya Safari Acrobats


Phreedom Healing – Sound Healer


Philippines


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Run! Play! Skip! Jump! And best of all… CREATE! Join us for two fun-filled days of celebrating the artistic expressions of our youth through cultural activities, arts & crafts, character appearances, international storytelling, music, dance, and more.


For more information, visit WeAreTheARTS.com/wow.


Activities include:

Latino Storytelling w/ Alex Weiss


Jef the Mime & Balloon Twister


Japanese Storytelling w/ Yasu Ishida


Hawaii


Climbing Wall


Creative Face Painting

Phreedom Healing – Sound Healer


African Storytelling w/ April Turner


Magician Tain Collins


Photo w/ Special Characters


Youth Performances


Cultural Arts & Crafts

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Download the official 2022 International Folk Festival Logo and Tags:


Download Promotional Photos:


Interested in being an Event Partner for the 2023 International Folk Festival, contact


Christy McNeil, Director of Marketing

christym@theartscouncil.com

910-460-5724

 

The International Folk Festival is a production of the


2022 Event Partners













 

About the Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County


The Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization based in Fayetteville, NC that supports individual creativity, cultural preservation, economic development, and lifelong learning through the ARTS. As a primary steward of public and private funding for arts, cultural, and historical activities in the Cape Fear Region, all affiliated programs of the Arts Council exemplify our 5 core values: Excellence, Accountability, Transparency, Collaborations, and Innovation. theartscouncil.com


In the year 2021-22, the Arts Council distributed almost $1 million in grant funds and allocations to Cumberland County arts and culture non-profit organizations, artists, and municipalities.


Grants, programs, and services of the Arts Council are funded in part by contributions from community partners, and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. ncarts.org


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