Holiday Folk Fair in Milwaukee
By Debby Tewes
While retailers start celebrating Christmas in September, the true start to
the Holiday Season for Milwaukee residents is the annual Holiday Folk Fair
held the weekend before Thanksgiving. This event has historically heralded
the holidays and celebrated Milwaukee’s ethnic diversity for 65 years. The
location has changed from the old Auditorium to its new home in West Allis
at the State Fair Grounds. The Holiday Folk Fair is produced annually by the
International Institute of Milwaukee. The motto of the Folk Fair is: “Out of
Many, One.”
This annual event is as much about connecting with old friends as it is
about celebrating the many cultures that make up Milwaukee. Ethnic groups
set up cultural booths to highlight aspects of their culture; sales booths which
are popular for holiday shoppers to peruse the handicrafts of many nations
(and no plane ticket is required!); and food booths which are the most popular
of all, as you can literally eat your way around the world. The temptations are
great, as the savory fragrances wafting through the hall are an irresistible lure
for many hungry folks. If you come with a group of friends, you can dine
family style, sharing tastes from every plate.
There are stages in several areas and you can wander between the
thumping drums of Native American dancers and cross the hall and hear the
foot stomping and thigh slapping of German Folk dancers. No one looks at
men walking by in kilts or African Dashikis or women in colorful European
costumes shopping at the Egyptian food booth.
I was privileged to help out again this year at the JACL sales booth but
probably spent more time socializing with passing acquaintances than
actually working. Children pass by with Folk Fair Passports, which are stamped
with each “country” they visit.
A special highlight this year was the addition of a second Philippine
booth. In addition to the longstanding FAAWIS (Filipino-American
Association of WI) booth, the Filipino-American National Historical Society of
Wisconsin (FANHS) set up a booth that highlighted the colorful textiles of
different tribal regions of the Philippine Islands. The booth also showed a
video showing textile making in the Philippines, and a substantial number of
beautiful textiles from the personal collection of Princess Emraida Kiram.
The booth was awarded “Best In Show” by the Folk Fair. In just a few minutes
at the booth, Ernie Lizarondo, Gerry Gaddi and Emraida Kiram taught me a
mini-lesson in the materials used to create these beautiful heirloom pieces.
Who knew that pineapple fibers, called piña could be woven into beautiful
translucent barongs? Angelica Varona-Camarona, FANHS president, came
up with the idea and the rest of the group helped create the presentation.
While retailers start celebrating Christmas in September, the true start to
the Holiday Season for Milwaukee residents is the annual Holiday Folk Fair
held the weekend before Thanksgiving. This event has historically heralded
the holidays and celebrated Milwaukee’s ethnic diversity for 65 years. The
location has changed from the old Auditorium to its new home in West Allis
at the State Fair Grounds. The Holiday Folk Fair is produced annually by the
International Institute of Milwaukee. The motto of the Folk Fair is: “Out of
Many, One.”
This annual event is as much about connecting with old friends as it is
about celebrating the many cultures that make up Milwaukee. Ethnic groups
set up cultural booths to highlight aspects of their culture; sales booths which
are popular for holiday shoppers to peruse the handicrafts of many nations
(and no plane ticket is required!); and food booths which are the most popular
of all, as you can literally eat your way around the world. The temptations are
great, as the savory fragrances wafting through the hall are an irresistible lure
for many hungry folks. If you come with a group of friends, you can dine
family style, sharing tastes from every plate.
There are stages in several areas and you can wander between the
thumping drums of Native American dancers and cross the hall and hear the
foot stomping and thigh slapping of German Folk dancers. No one looks at
men walking by in kilts or African Dashikis or women in colorful European
costumes shopping at the Egyptian food booth.
I was privileged to help out again this year at the JACL sales booth but
probably spent more time socializing with passing acquaintances than
actually working. Children pass by with Folk Fair Passports, which are stamped
with each “country” they visit.
A special highlight this year was the addition of a second Philippine
booth. In addition to the longstanding FAAWIS (Filipino-American
Association of WI) booth, the Filipino-American National Historical Society of
Wisconsin (FANHS) set up a booth that highlighted the colorful textiles of
different tribal regions of the Philippine Islands. The booth also showed a
video showing textile making in the Philippines, and a substantial number of
beautiful textiles from the personal collection of Princess Emraida Kiram.
The booth was awarded “Best In Show” by the Folk Fair. In just a few minutes
at the booth, Ernie Lizarondo, Gerry Gaddi and Emraida Kiram taught me a
mini-lesson in the materials used to create these beautiful heirloom pieces.
Who knew that pineapple fibers, called piña could be woven into beautiful
translucent barongs? Angelica Varona-Camarona, FANHS president, came
up with the idea and the rest of the group helped create the presentation.
(Counterclockwise from above)
Young Hmong performer; Elvis
Thao (actor, Gran Torino)
performs; Awardees; Charles
Vang presents awards to
scholars (L-R) Ia Moua, Kailia
Vang and Ker Xiong; Dave
Suyama and Masaru Danshita
demonstrate Japanese
Calligraphy at the Japanese
American Citizen’s League
booth; Sultanate of Kiram
Crest; Estrelita Lizarondo &
Award- FANHS Textile Booth
Young Hmong performer; Elvis
Thao (actor, Gran Torino)
performs; Awardees; Charles
Vang presents awards to
scholars (L-R) Ia Moua, Kailia
Vang and Ker Xiong; Dave
Suyama and Masaru Danshita
demonstrate Japanese
Calligraphy at the Japanese
American Citizen’s League
booth; Sultanate of Kiram
Crest; Estrelita Lizarondo &
Award- FANHS Textile Booth
