Folkmoot USA’s Parade of Nations has always served as the official start of the Folkmoot Festival each year. This year’s Parade follows in that tradition and will take place on Main Street in Waynesville, North Carolina on Friday, July 23.
Changes to the parade in 2010 include the following: there will be a new opening ceremony on the steps of the Historic Courthouse at 12:30 pm. State, regional and town officials will speak to kick off the event and include North Carolina’s Secretary of Cultural Resources, Linda Carlisle, and Senator Joe Sam Queen as well as officials from Haywood County and the towns of Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton and Clyde. At 1pm, the Parade of Nations with the Folkmoot international dancers and musicians will leave from the Courthouse moving South on Main Street, going the opposite direction from years past.
Folkmoot’s executive director, Karen Babcock, explains: “There were several reasons for changing the Parade format in 2010. We wanted to create a better event for the public, for the officials and especially the Folkmoot performers. The officials will begin by speaking to open the Festival. The performers will dance at the Courthouse, as in years past, and continue down Main Street, ending at the First Baptist Church. It seems a more logical arrangement that we hope will please everyone involved.” Because the Parade will showcase only a cultural dance sampling from each country, people are encouraged to purchase tickets to one or more of the many nearby air-conditioned venues. Only at ticketed shows do people get a chance to experience a two-hour series of performances. Ticket prices range from $7 - $30 at venues throughout Western North Carolina. Tickets are available online at www.FolkmootUSA.org or call the ticket office at 877-FOLKUSA.
2010’s invited groups include Russia, Latvia, Poland, Jordan, Switzerland, Portugal, France, United Kingdom (Irish Dancers) and Peru*. The 2010 Folkmoot Festival takes place July 22 – August 1 throughout eleven counties in Western North Carolina. While there are over 300 international festivals like Folkmoot USA across the globe, Folkmoot is one of only two international folk festivals in the United States. Held for 26 consecutive years, Folkmoot is North Carolina’s Official International Festival and has been designated “One of the Top Twenty Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society for 20 years. Folkmoot USA attracts 100,000 visitors to Western North Carolina and draws more than 4 million tourism dollars to local communities each year.
The Folkmoot 5K Run/Walk & Kid’s Fun Run (co-sponsored with Waynesville Parks & Recreation and Haywood County Parks & Recreation) will be held Saturday, July 31 in front of the Folkmoot Friendship Center. Haywood County Arts Council’s International Festival Day takes place on Saturday, July 31, also in Waynesville, North Carolina. In addition to 21 ticketed performances, Folkmoot dancers and musicians are featured at many private and charitable performances during the two-week Folkmoot Festival.