137:, England in 1973. Western North Carolina had a history of preserving its traditional culture, so Border believed it would be a good location for an American folk festival. In 1984, Border presented a plan for a festival in North Carolina which would be similar to the one in England. One month later, a board of directors began work on the first Folkmoot USA. At one time, the name for the event was North Carolina International Folk Festival, Folkmoot USA.
172:
not used for the festival, the
Hazelwood facility became a community center, with art work from the various countries in the hallways. The organization's mission of understanding other cultures continued the rest of the year. Other sections of the school building were used by Haywood County Alternative Learning Center and the Haywood County Schools Conference Center.
171:
In the 1990s, Hazelwood
Elementary School, built in 1923 with later additions in 1939, 1955, 1958 and 1987, and located at 112 Virginia Avenue in the Hazelwood section of Waynesville, was replaced with a new, larger building. In 2002, the Folkmoot Friendship Center opened in the former school. When
179:
school system chose to let
Folkmoot have the aging school, which desperately needed repairs and upgrades, especially to its roof. The change would allow Folkmoot to have events year-round; for the more than ten years the organization leased the building, the uncertainty about its future location
195:
started in 1977, move into the 40,000-square-foot 1923 building, a third of the
Folkmoot Center, for ten months out of the year, with Folkmoot USA using the space the other two months. The building needed major upgrades. As of 2024, the academy had a sign outside another of the former school's
199:
Year-round programs include
Southern Storytellers Series, Cultural Crash Courses, Nashville Songwriters in the Round, live music performances and International Friendship Dinners. Western North Carolina Quilt Trail has moved to the Folkmoot Center, and artists' spaces are available.
183:
As of 2019, over $ 1 million had been spent on improvements. Heating, cooling and electrical improvements were still needed which would cost $ 300,000 more, and funds were being raised through events such as
Mountain Memories Hazelwood, a variety show about the area's history.
180:
prevented
Folkmoot from expanding its programs. Owning its building also meant Folkmoot would have to raise money for the building, which it could finally do as the owner. The gift was the largest ever to the organization, worth $ 1.3 million according to tax records.
322:
Hundreds of groups apply to perform each year, with 10 to 12 selected. According to executive director Jackie Bolden, the festival offers different cultures each year, with each group performing dances or music of their particular culture, representing
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One study estimated its contribution to the economy at $ 4 million. In 2003, Folkmoot USA had approximately 350 performers and 75,000 spectators from at least 40 states.
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335:
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342:. Most groups that perform for Folkmoot USA have some connection to CIOFF, and in case of a last-minute cancellation, CIOFF connections can find a replacement.
235:- a meeting of the people) was a governing general assembly consisting of all the free members of a tribe, community or district. It was the forerunner to the
203:
As of 2024, with the festival getting shorter every year, Folkmoot USA succeeded in turning its buildings into a year-round arts center which paid for itself.
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93:
and surrounding communities. During its history, the two-week event has featured around 8000 performers from approximately 200 countries. The
Folkmoot USA
1018:
714:
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357:
claims to have been inspired by
Folkmoot USA. In 2007, Folkmoot USA executive director Jamye Cooper helped start the Yocona Festival.
140:
The first event took place in 1984, coinciding with North
Carolina's 400th birthday celebration, featuring performers from England,
903:
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To help pay for the buildings, Folkmoot USA needed to find other uses. In 2019, Folkmoot USA agreed to let Academy at SOAR, a
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168:. Waynesville Middle School and other schools housed performers before Folkmoot USA had its own building.
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The term has also been appropriated for modern-day annual meetings of organisations such as the
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declared Folkmoot USA to be the state's official international folk festival in 2003. The
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952:"Folkmoot finally grows into vision of creating community arts and culture hub"
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International Council of Folklore Festival Organizations and Traditional Arts
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has its headquarters in the former Hazelwood Elementary School. The name "
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In 2014, with no other potential uses for the old Hazelwood School, the
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802:"Folkmoot USA seeks to update building, name to match evolving role"
657:"Folkmoot USA--The State International Festival of North Carolina"
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has named Folkmoot USA one of its top twenty events for 20 years.
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Kiss, Tony (2016-07-22). "Folkmoot returns with colorful shows".
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and Asheville's Jewish Community Center. Other locations include
239:, which was in turn in some respects the precursor of the modern
1215:
687:
379:
83:
Folkmoot USA, The State International Festival of North Carolina
745:"State International Festival of North Carolina: Folkmoot, USA"
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1170:
Wilhelm, Angela (2017-07-28). "Folkmoot's Parade of Nations".
656:
69:
998:
683:"SOAR School moving to Folkmoot's Historic Hazelwood School"
904:"The New Alternative Learning Center—Making a Difference"
999:"Yocona International Folk Festival: About the Festival"
1237:"Folkmoot Announces its 36th Annual Festival Schedule"
582:
2018: Czech Republic, Ghana, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico,
64:
56:
48:
40:
32:
24:
970:"Folkmoot USA celebrates 20th year in Western NC"
125:Folkmoot USA began with a visit by Waynesville
866:"Folkmoot to finally get title to old school"
8:
19:
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1291:1984 establishments in the United States
891:Haywood County Schoolin': A Rich History
829:
827:
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708:
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1104:"Folkmoot performers coming to Hickory"
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793:
615:
1131:"Meet the performers of Folkmoot 2015"
676:
674:
672:
681:Kepley-Steward, Kristy (2019-09-11).
629:"Folkmoot USA International Festival"
109:, means "meeting of the people". The
7:
1296:Recurring events established in 1984
1286:Folk festivals in the United States
278:, performances have taken place in
1186:"Photo gallery: Parade of Nations"
351:Yocona International Folk Festival
14:
747:. Government and Heritage Library
1077:"The countries of Folkmoot USA"
950:Dallara, Brionna (2024-02-12).
635:from the original on 2013-02-02
524:, Turkey, Trinidad and Tobago,
111:North Carolina General Assembly
772:Sniatecki, Ryan (2002-07-17).
713:Beadle, Michael (2007-07-18).
561:, Japan, Peru, Poland, Romania
1:
1266:Photo gallery from 2005 event
1050:"The groups of Folkmoot 2011"
864:Johnson, Becky (2014-01-08).
774:"The world comes home to WNC"
1159:. p. Asheville Scene 9.
976:. 2003-07-16. Archived from
424:, India, Mexico, Netherlands
334:Folkmoot USA belongs to the
836:"Folkmoot given old school"
800:Hyatt, Vicki (2019-10-16).
248:Order of Woodcraft Chivalry
133:team to a folk festival in
91:Waynesville, North Carolina
60:International folk festival
36:Hazelwood Elementary School
16:International folk festival
1312:
546:, Philippines, Puerto Rico
101:", used for a festival in
1019:"Folkmoot Festival 2009!"
908:Haywood Community College
834:Kiss, Tony (2014-06-25).
568:, Canada, India, Israel,
129:Dr. Clinton Border and a
115:Southeast Tourism Society
1211:"2018 Folkmoot Festival"
931:. Haywood County Schools
1172:Asheville Citizen-Times
1157:Asheville Citizen-Times
841:Asheville Citizen-Times
715:"A World of Difference"
520:2014: Romania, Russia,
370:, Puerto Rico, Mexico,
318:Selection of performers
95:non-profit organization
1271:Photo of 1923 building
1239:. Folkmoot. 2019-06-13
85:, is an international
44:Western North Carolina
586:, Thailand, Venezuela
361:Countries represented
338:, or CIOFF, based in
288:Diana Wortham Theatre
284:Asheville High School
254:Performance locations
193:learning disabilities
1109:Hickory Daily Record
1190:Smoky Mountain News
1135:Smoky Mountain News
1082:Smoky Mountain News
1055:Smoky Mountain News
974:Smoky Mountain News
871:Smoky Mountain News
719:Smoky Mountain News
593:, China, Colombia,
557:, Finland, France,
471:Trinidad and Tobago
221:Anglo-Saxon England
215:Meaning of the name
103:Newcastle upon Tyne
89:held since 1984 in
21:
743:Kemp, Amy (2017).
555:Dominican Republic
514:, Mexico, Canada,
479:, France, Serbia,
270:, Waynesville and
191:for children with
80:
79:
1303:
1261:Official website
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584:Northern Cyprus
570:The Netherlands
363:
348:
346:Other festivals
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258:In addition to
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189:boarding school
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1241:. Retrieved
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1220:. Retrieved
1214:
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1194:. Retrieved
1192:. 2018-07-25
1189:
1180:
1171:
1165:
1156:
1150:
1139:. Retrieved
1137:. 2015-07-15
1134:
1125:
1114:. Retrieved
1112:. 2013-07-17
1107:
1098:
1087:. Retrieved
1085:. 2012-07-18
1080:
1071:
1060:. Retrieved
1058:. 2011-07-20
1053:
1044:
1033:. Retrieved
1026:the original
1013:
1002:. Retrieved
993:
982:. Retrieved
978:the original
973:
964:
955:
945:
933:. Retrieved
929:"Directions"
923:
912:. Retrieved
910:. 2008-09-18
898:
890:
886:
875:. Retrieved
869:
845:. Retrieved
839:
811:. Retrieved
805:
781:. Retrieved
777:
749:. Retrieved
738:
727:. Retrieved
723:the original
718:
692:. Retrieved
686:
660:. Retrieved
637:. Retrieved
353:in northern
349:
333:
321:
257:
245:
228:
224:
218:
210:
202:
198:
186:
182:
174:
170:
139:
131:square dance
124:
82:
81:
72:.folkmootusa
20:Folkmoot USA
489:Philippines
485:Puerto Rico
477:New Zealand
437:Switzerland
416:, Romania,
355:Mississippi
296:Bryson City
237:witenagemot
233:Old English
196:buildings.
162:Puerto Rico
1280:Categories
1243:2019-07-25
1222:2018-07-26
1196:2018-07-26
1141:2015-07-30
1116:2013-07-18
1089:2012-07-27
1062:2012-07-27
1035:2010-06-17
1004:2010-06-17
984:2010-06-17
914:2017-05-09
877:2014-06-27
847:2014-07-01
813:2021-06-14
783:2010-06-17
751:2021-06-08
729:2010-06-17
694:2021-06-14
662:2010-06-17
639:2020-06-07
610:References
572:, Russia,
534:, Canada,
532:Bangladesh
500:Martinique
467:Guadeloupe
457:, Canada,
300:Burnsville
241:Parliament
893:, p. 368.
605:, Romania
566:Argentina
493:Indonesia
469:, Italy,
392:Macedonia
304:Flat Rock
280:Asheville
935:June 20,
633:Archived
574:Slovenia
526:Colombia
516:Paraguay
512:Slovakia
504:Thailand
445:Portugal
439:, Peru,
325:holidays
308:Cherokee
292:Franklin
229:folkmote
225:folkmoot
135:Sidmouth
99:Folkmoot
52:Festival
41:Location
599:Hungary
591:Bahamas
544:Estonia
540:Ecuador
481:Belgium
463:Finland
459:Croatia
455:Burundi
418:Georgia
388:Romania
368:Jamaica
329:battles
312:Hickory
150:Ireland
146:Holland
142:Germany
127:surgeon
121:History
107:England
65:Website
589:2019:
578:Taiwan
564:2017:
549:2016:
530:2015:
522:Taiwan
495:, Peru
475:2012:
453:2011:
449:Poland
441:Jordan
433:France
429:Latvia
422:Israel
410:Serbia
406:Greece
400:2009:
384:Russia
376:Greece
366:2007:
310:, and
260:Canton
207:Impact
158:Mexico
154:Turkey
1029:(PDF)
1022:(PDF)
603:Nepal
595:Egypt
559:Ghana
551:China
536:Chile
508:Japan
414:Kenya
402:Spain
396:Korea
372:Italy
340:Paris
264:Clyde
166:India
57:Theme
33:Venue
1216:WNCW
937:2024
688:WLOS
380:Peru
223:, a
164:and
74:.org
49:Type
28:1984
25:Date
282:at
274:in
227:or
219:In
70:www
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231:(
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