FolkMoot Festival

In the summer of 2014, I had the pleasure to take part at the International Festival FolkMoot from Waynesville, North Carolina, USA.

This festival amazed me from all points of view. And I will tell you why.

First of all, I discovered that this festival is held every year in the last two weeks of July, since 1984. The festival has a great history that begins in the year 1973 when Dr. Clinton Border participated with a dance group, to a international festival in England. Knowing that the people from the Western of North Carolina care very much to their traditions and their preservation, Border, presented his new vision, to create a world-class festival, to the community leaders.

After a very short time, the board of administrators, met and launched this great festival – FolkMoot.

In 1984 takes place the first editon of the International Festival FolkMoot. This first edition coincides with the anniversary day of the 400 years from the birth of the North Carolina state.

At this edition participated 9 countries including: England, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Turkey, Mexico, Puerto Rico and India. To these were joined several groups of musicians and dancers from across the United States.

Even if each year the number of applicants are hundreds, the organizers select only 8 or 10 countries. And why they do this? I give you the answer!

FolkMoot is a non-profit organization that organizes this festival from the money raised through donations, sponsorships, grants and from money raised from the sale of tickets for the festival.

Everything is very well organized starting from: accommodation, meals of the groups (3 meals per day), transport - from Waynesville to various locations for the performances, etc. Also, each group has one 1 or 2 guides, each highly trained in what they have to do.

For example, our guide, waited us in the Atlanta Airport with a bus prepared for the the long road to Waynesville (food + water). He explained us the festival's program, he told us more about the time that will be allocated to the group for each show, he told us about what we can visit when we don't have performances, and he kept us updated with all the changes pertaining to the festival program.

For this, the organizers have all my respect. It is not easy to organize a festival of this magnitude, even when you have all the resources. But to organize a festival based only on donations, sponsorships and volunteering, for me it's a great thing. Once again.... RESPECT!

At this festival we discovered wonderful people, every night we discovered, traditions and customs of each country, we changed opinions and ideas, we made friends and we enjoyed every party and show with our new international friends.

From my point of view I recommend everyone to take part at this festival, whether you are a folk group, whether you are just visiting the region.

More information you can find on the website of the organization : http://folkmootusa.org/

This year (2015), the beautiful festival will take place from16 to 26 July.

TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
Adult: $16.00
Wcu Faculty: $0.00
Student/Children (12 & under): $5.00

Tickets on sale from May 13, 2015 12:33 PM to July 25, 2015 3:00 PM

Photo source: http://patrickparton.com/f1062313190
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