International Folkfest June 12-19, 2016

May 26, 2016 at 07:55 am by bryan


We're about two-weeks from the beginning of the International Folkfest. From Sunday, June 12th, through June 19th, musicians and dancers from Czech Republic, Germany and Puerto Rico will join Murfreesboro's Cripple Creek Cloggers for public performances.

In June, 1967 Steve Cates started the Cripple Creek Cloggers as a 4-H project at Kittrell School. The group has toured the world and shared our Appalachian heritage over those 49-years. The dancers were invited to their first international event in 1977. Cates surmised that Rutherford County was ready, and in 1982 organized International Folkfest. That was the first event of its type in Tennessee.

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As of today, here is the 2016 Folkfest schedule:

  • Tue., June 14 at 10AM the group from Germany performs at the Smyrna Public Library (free).
  • Tue., June 14 at 10AM the group from Puerto Rico performs at the St. Clair Street Senior Center (free).
  • Wed., June 15 at 10AM the group from the Czech Republic perform at the Linebaugh Library (free)
  • Thu., June 16 at 6:45AM joins the Murfreesboro Breakfast Rotary Club at the Stones River Country Club.
  • Fri., June 17 at 7PM in Lebanon High School (500 Blue Devil Blvd., Lebanon, TN), admission $10.
  • Sat., June 18 at 8:30-12:30PM all groups perform on the east side of the Historic Courthouse. In addition, Uncle Shuffelo and his Haint Hollow Hootenanny will be there from Rover, Tennessee. Bring your cameras, free.
  • Sat., June 18 at 11:30AM the group from Puerto Rico performs at the Smyrna Train Depot (free).

All groups will share their country's dances and heritage at the Grove at Williamson Place (across from the Avenue of Murfreesboro, the strawberry and sunflower place), Main Street Music and possibly other locations. They will perform at the Boys and Girls Club, Tennessee Veterans Home, and the MTSU Governor's School. For updates, check the Folkfest website: www.mboro-international-folkfest.org/

The international visitors will be welcomed by Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland and Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess. In addition, representatives from the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce will take place in the ceremony.

In addition, Tina Jones from US Representative Scott DesJarlais's office, has invited representatives from the US Embassies for the Czech Republic and Germany. Puerto Rico does not have a US embassy, as it is a territory of the US and has elected representatives in the House and Senate in Washington, DC.

Cripple Creek Cloggers and Folkfest founder Steve Cates (left photo) remains the moving force behind the group and this event. If you would like to help sponsor a group, event or have an idea, contact Cates by calling his home at 615-896-3559. His cell number is 615-542-4162, and he does not receive texts.

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