75th Festival of Christmas and Midwinter Traditions

Mark your calendars for our 75th annual Festival of Christmas and Midwinter Traditions! This extra special anniversary will be one to remember as we bring the festival back in-person! Founded by Jane Farwell in 1947 as an antidote to the growing commercialization of the season, this festival celebrates and shares the customs and traditions of people worldwide. This year’s joyful, immersive celebration of folklore and community will feature dance workshops with Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu, singing workshops with Cait Vitale-Sullivan, crafts, evening parties, teas, and much more.

Featured Artists: Our 75th Festival of Christmas and Midwinter Traditions features Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu, Cait Vitale-Sullivan, Intemperance Collective, and more.

Each day features hours of engaging workshops and kids programming. Whether you are interested in dance, singing, crafting, or music, there’s bound to be something for you. Read more about our workshops here.

After a full day of folk activities, enjoy an afternoon tea and treats. Our festival features four cultural teas: the Ostfriesen Tea, a Ho-Chunk Stories Tea, a Sankta Lucia tea, and our annual Live Auction tea. Learn more about each tea here.

Schedule:

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

3:00 - 4:30: Registration - Farwell Hall Lobby
3:00 - 4:30: Ostfriesland Tea Set Up - Main Hall
3:00 - 4:30: Nametags - Balcony (Kid Friendly Programming)
4:30 - 5:30: Ostfriesland Tea Ceremony - Main Hall
5:30 - 6:30: Registration and Nametags Continued - Lobby, Balcony (Kid Friendly Programming)
6:00: Dinner Set Up - Main Hall
6:30: Ostfriesland Dinner with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall
8:00: Meet n' Greet Party - Main Hall

Thursday, December 29, 2022

8:30 - 9:15: Breakfast with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall
9:30 - 11:00: Community Quilt Project with Carol Ormand - Balcony (Kid Friendly Programming)
9:30 - 11:30: Dance with Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu - Main Hall
10:45 - 12:15: Singing with Cait Vitale-Sullivan: Rounds and Two Voice Songs - Church
11:00 - 12:15: Balfolk Music Workshop with Bob Walser - Music Room
11:15 - 12:15: Craft with Lucy Richards - Craft Room (Kid Friendly Programming)
12:15: Lunch Set Up - Main Hall
12:30 - 1:30: Ho-Chunk Lunch with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall
1:45 - 2:45: Dance with Sonia and Cristian - Main Hall
1:45 - 2:45: Appalachian Gee-Haw Sticks with David Eagan - Gallery (Kid Friendly Programming)
1:45 - 3:15: Festival Band with Amy McFarland and Maria Terres - Music Room
1:45 - 3:45: Ho-Chunk Beading with Andi Cloud - Craft Room
2:45 - 4:15: Singing with Cait Vitale-Sullivan: Balkan Songs - Church
3:00 - 4:00: Theater Games with Johanna Gorman-Baer - Gallery (Kid Friendly Programming)
3:00 - 4:15: Balfolk Dance Workshop with Bob Walser - Main Hall
4:15: Tea Set Up - Main Hall
4:30: Ho-Chunk Stories Tea with Andi Cloud - Main Hall (Kid Friendly Programming)
6:00: Dinner Set Up - Main Hall
6:30: Balkan Dinner with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall
7:30: Kids Storytime - Gallery (Kid Friendly Programming)
8:00: Balfolk Evening Party - Main Hall

Friday, December 30, 2022

8:30 - 9:15: Breakfast with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall
9:30 - 10:30: Theater Games with Johanna Gorman-Baer - Gallery (Kid Friendly Programming)
9:30 - 11:00: Community Quilt Project with Carol Ormand - Balcony (Kid Friendly Programming)
9:30 - 11:00: Dance with Sonia Dion and Cristian Florsecu - Main Hall
10:45 - 12:15: Singing with Cait Vitale-Sullivan: Seasonal Carols - Church
11:00 - 12:15: Craft with Lucy Richards - Craft Room (Kid Friendly Programming)
11:15 - 12:15: Longsword with Bob Walser - Main Hall
12:15: Lunch Set Up - Main Hall
12:30 - 1:30: Swedish Lunch with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall
1:45 - 2:45: Craft with Lucy Richards - Craft Room (Kid Friendly Programming)
1:45 - 3:15: Dance with Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu - Main Hall
1:45 - 3:15: Festival Band with Amy McFarland and Maria Terres - Music Room
2:45 - 4:15: Singing with Cait Vitale-Sullivan: Swedish Singing for Dancing - Church
3:00 - 4:30: Sankta Lucia Rehearsal - Costume Room (Kid Friendly Programming)
4:15: Tea Set Up - Main Hall
4:30: Sankta Lucia Tea - Main Hall (Kid Friendly Programming)
6:00: Dinner Set Up - Main Hall
6:30: Balkan Dinner with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall
7:30: Kids Storytime - Gallery (Kid Friendly Programming)
8:00: Balkans and Beyond Party with Intemperance Collective - Main Hall

Saturday, December 31, 2022

8:30 - 9:15: Breakfast with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall
9:30 - 10:30: Dance with Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu - Main Hall
9:30 - 11:00: Community Quilt Project with Carol Ormand - Balcony (Kid Friendly Programming)
10:45 - 12:15: Francaise and Heilsberger Dreieck Dances with Greg Winz - Main Hall
10:45 - 12:15: Festival Band with Amy McFarland and Maria Terres - Music Room
11:15 - 12:15: Kid's Activity - Craft Room (Kid Friendly Programming)
12:15: Lunch Set Up - Main Hall
12:30 - 1:30: Romanian Lunch with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall
1:45 - 2:45: Singing Review for Party Showcase with Cait Vitale-Sullivan - Church
1:45 - 3:00: New Year's Eve Skit Workshop with Johanna Gorman-Baer - Gallery (Kid Friendly Programming)
1:45 - 3:00: Longsword with Bob Walser - Main Hall
3:15 - 4:00: Francaise and Heilsberger Dreieck Review with Greg Winz - Main Hall
3:15 - 4:00: Festival Band Review with Amy McFarland and Maria Terres - Main Hall
4:00: Auction Tea Set Up - Main Hall
4:30: Auction Tea with Auctioneer Jim McNeill - Main Hall (Kid Friendly Programming)
6:00: Dinner Set-Up - Main Hall
6:30: Dinner with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall
7:30: New Year's Eve Skit Rehearsal - Gallery (Kid Friendly Programming)
8:00: 75th Anniversary Party - Main Hall

Sunday, January 1, 2023

10:00: "Ring Out the Old" Brunch with RedBarn Catering - Main Hall

Date: December 28, 2022 - January 1, 2023

Location: Folklore Village, 3210 County Highway BB
Dodgeville, WI 53533.

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