Upper Peninsula Folklife Festival Honors Traditional Arts and Culture in Marquette

Event Date:

Location:

Purpose:
To celebrate the traditional arts, music, food, and cultural heritage of the Upper Peninsula.

Revival of Previous Festival:
A revival of the earlier Upper Peninsula Folklife Festival that had been discontinued for 16 years.
Cultural Focus:
Aimed at reconnecting communities with traditional arts and crafts, showcasing practices passed down through generations.

Event: Upper Peninsula Food Crawl
Featuring:
- Local restaurants with regionally inspired dishes
- Live music by Majority Finn, Ameriikan Poijat, The Feltliner Duo, and Back Room Boys.

Location: Northern Center, Northern Michigan University
Activities:
- Craft and art demonstrations
  - Harp making, bowl turning, weaving, woodblock printing, and Native American beadwork.
- Hands-on Workshops:
  - Subjects include lace making, wooden spoon carving, birchbark ornament making, and more.
  - Some workshops require registration and may have fees.
Performances:
- Musical and dance performances by groups like Kivajat, Hiawatha House Band, and others.

Event: Explore Marquette-area cultural sites
- Studios, galleries, museums, and other institutions highlighting local food, art, and heritage.

Cultural Heritage:
Emphasizes that heritage reflects both the past and its ongoing influence in the present.
Importance of Continuation:
Aims to inspire younger generations to learn and practice traditional arts to prevent them from fading away.

Admission: Free for most events, some workshops may have fees.
Organizers: Dan Truckey and others working to revive and promote traditional folk arts.
Support: Funded by various organizations including the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and local arts initiatives.

Goal:
To foster a deeper appreciation of the region’s culture and inspire attendees to engage with traditional arts and customs.

For more details on registration and programming, visit the Upper Peninsula Folklife Festival website.