Spokane Folklore Society Hosts its 29th Annual Fall Folk Festival

Spokane Folklore Society Hosts its 29th Annual Fall Folk Festival

A weekend of music, dance, and cultural celebration

By Taylor Shillam

This month, the Spokane Folklore Society rings in its 29th year of celebrating cultural diversity in the Spokane community with the Fall Folk Festival, held November 9-10 at Spokane Community College. The festival promises a weekend full of cultural fun, showcasing the diversity of the Spokane community through music, dance and the arts. 

Festival attendees will have the chance to witness traditional and ethnic dance, entertainment, jamming, and unique workshops. Admission and parking are free, to make the multicultural community event as accessible as possible for everyone to enjoy the event. "After 28 years and three moves to larger venues, we are proud to say that with the help of many volunteers and donors, we still don’t charge admission or for parking," shares Donna Graham, Publicity Chair. 

The festival aims to integrate local community members with a celebration of cultures from across the world. It features talent of all kinds, including musicians, singers, dancers, choir groups, crafters, and artisans. 

"This is the most diverse multi-cultural festival in the Inland Northwest," Donna says. "Attendees can expect new and old performers from diverse cultures, with new performers and longtime favorites." 

Fall Folk Festival guests will hear music from places like Africa and Ireland, take in dancing from Japan and Scotland, shop hand-woven scarves from Guatemala, and much more. The festival is the perfect place to celebrate many of the cultures that make the Spokane community and the world so special. Watch local musicians come together, shop handmade and one-of-a-kind jewelry, or engage with local nonprofits; the opportunities to indulge in rich culture are endless at the Fall Folk Festival. Regional musicians of all kinds will be highlighted, representing blues, bluegrass, Middle Eastern traditions, Celtic sounds, and much more. 

In a statement to the community, Festival Director Sylvia Gobel expressed the Society’s heartfelt gratitude to all who have participated in the festival’s production and growth since its beginning in 1996, since growing to accommodate over 5,000 attendees each year. 

Throughout the festival weekend, 100 performances will be presented on the six festival stages hosted at Spokane Community College, highlighting the Spokane area’s vibrant arts and cultural offerings. The on-site bake sale will offer coffee and baked goods to fuel attendees through all of the weekend’s performances, demonstrations, and festival fun. 

The Spokane Folklore Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer-run organization established in 1977. To achieve their mission of promoting a broader community awareness of local cultural and folk traditions, the Spokane Folklore Society hosts several monthly dance events, distributes a monthly newsletter, and offers a wealth of resources promoting and connecting local performers across the region. "Our funding is through grants and donations from the community," Donna says. 

As the Spokane Folklore Society’s major annual event, the Fall Folk Festival requires several hundred volunteers to run, with all festival performers and organizers donating their time. To get involved with the Spokane Folklore Society, visit SpokaneFolklore.org. To learn more about the Fall Folk Festival and view its complete lineup of events and performances, visit SpokaneFolkFestival.org.