Rutherford County, TN - The International Folkloric Society Planning Council has announced the arrival of musicians and dancers from Mexico, Poland, and France! The group of approximately 75 will be visiting and performing in the mid-state community from June 4 through June 11. The guest folk troupes will be joined by festival hosts the Rutherford County Cripple Creek Cloggers, and The Slim Chance Band, including local performers, Rob Pearcy, Donovan Carpenter, Avent Lane and Sarah Rose Harris, for performances at The Grove at Williamson Family Farm at 1:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 9. Admission is $15 /person. Visual folkloric artists from the area will also be exhibiting before and after both performance sessions. Food trucks will also be available. This is International Folkfest's 40th anniversary - one year late!
At other times during their stay, the troupes will be performing for boys and girls clubs, retirement homes, Murfreesboro City School students, the TN Veterans Home, Smyrna and Murfreesboro libraries, senior citizen groups, the Governor's School for the Arts, etc. Major sponsors include the Middle TN Electric Membership Corporation, Tennessee Arts Commission, Breakfast Rotary and the Rutherford Co. Convention and Visitors Bureau. For a full schedule, as well as information on the visiting groups and hosts, see the organization's website, www.mboro-international-folkfest.org.
The schedules for the participating troupes will include time for touring historical, educational, cultural and scenic sites. All groups will have an opportunity to meet together and share dances and music. Each troupe will have its own local guides for the week as well as bus transportation provided. Dignitaries greeting them for traditional gift exchanges who have been invited include Congressman Scott DesJarlais, Mayor Shane McFarland, Mayor Joe Carr, Murfreesboro Muslim Youth and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the State of Tennessee, the TN Arts Commission, Middle TN Electric Membership Corp and the Breakfast Rotary. Diplomats from the embassies of the countries attending also have been invited and the French Honorary Consul for TN will be present.
The International Folkfest was organized in 1982, the first of its kind in the U.S.; it was an idea fostered because of Cripple Creek Cloggers' experiences made touring to festivals in other countries, beginning in 1973, representing the U.S. The planning society is composed of a broad base of volunteers from the community. They meet all during the year to plan for current and future festivals. Interested persons are always welcome to participate and additional funding is always appreciated.
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