Past Event

2012 Midwest Folklife Festival

Join us for the 12th Annual Midwest Folklife Festival on August 4th and 5th!

This year’s two-day festival, “Labor and Leisure,” will showcase the rich cultural arts and traditions of the Upper Midwest. This family friendly event has activities for all ages.

Listen to music and watch dance on the main stage.
Learn about the traditions of Black Cowboys in Chicago.
Play traditional games of rolle bolle and bocce.
Meet artists in a variety of demonstration tents and on the narrative stage.

Many of the featured artists also performed on the Folksongs of Illinois CD series. A series originally released in 2007 that highlights Illinois’ vibrant musical past.

Festival artists include:

  • T-Rroma, performed on volume 4 of Folksongs of Illinois;
  • Juvenato, performed on volume 4 of Folksongs of Illinois;
  • Gordons, performed on volume 3 of Folksongs of Illinois;
  • Hoyles, will perform on volume 5 of Folksongs of Illinois coming out in 2013;
  • and many more!

The festival occurs August 4th and 5th. Admission to the festival is free. So, bring the family down and have a grand ole time!

For more information on the festival and a schedule of activities, please visit their website or Facebook page.  Read the Canton Daily Ledger article about the festival.

The 2012 Midwest Folklife Festival is brought to you by lead partners: the Illinois Arts Council, Company of Folk, and the Bishop Hill Heritage Association; producing partners: the Wisconsin Arts Board, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and key funder: Art Works.