This year’s International Folk Festival, to be held Sept. 22-24, will mark the 45th year for this community event and the Arts Council is going all out to make this year’s festival the best one yet.

“The mission of the festival continues to be to celebrate the diversity of our community by using the arts to highlight the numerous cultures present in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. We hope people find that they have more in common than they realize and that by working together they do make our community a better place,” shared President and CEO of The Arts Council of Fayetteville| Cumberland County Bob Pinson. 

There are still spaces available for additional vendors, performers and participants in the event.

Pinson shared that they are still looking for the following:

1. Country groups that are interested in marching in the Parade of Nations on Saturday, Sept. 23.
2. Performers that represent a country or region that can perform traditional dances/music.
3. Arts and Craft vendors and food vendors.

People may apply by going to www.wearethearts.com then events and the International Folk

Festival or directly on Eventeny at https://www.eventeny.com/events/45th-annual-international-

folk-festival-4086/ 

Pinson shared that they expect over 35 different countries to be represented this year and are looking for more in the area. 

The number one draw to the event is the food prepared by the various country groups. This is authentic food from the various countries/regions around the world with many using “Grandma’s” recipe.

“Being an arts council, we are striving to get more arts vendors. Many of these artisans struggled during COVID as many counted on festivals as a way to sell their creations. Sadly, many have not yet come back. On the flip side, many stayed busy and now have larger inventories to move,” shared Pinson. 

They are looking to move some of the activities and the performance area down Ray Avenue closer to Hay Street in an effort to better engage the downtown businesses.

The International Folk Festival is the oldest continuously running festival in Fayetteville and had an estimated attendance of over 50,000 in 2019. Pinson shared that The Arts Council’s goal is to surpass that number this year and to continue to grow in the future.