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Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County prepares for the 48th Annual International Folk Festival

By Staff Report, posted Sep 18, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

Photo credit: Stephanie Perez Rivera

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County proudly presents the 48th Annual International Folk Festival, set to take place Sept. 25-26 in downtown Fayetteville. This festival promises to be another spectacular celebration of cultural diversity and artistic expression.

On Friday, Sept. 25, the International Folk Festival will begin with an evening celebration on Hay Street themed Fiesta en la Calle. The Arts Council is proud to partner with Raleigh-based nonprofit El Centro Hispano to fill downtown with live cultural music, dance and more. Inside the Arts Council, guests can also participate in a free mail art workshop inspired by the current exhibition, Celebration of Sapphire: Mail Art from Around the World.

The Parade of Nations kicks off the festival on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. with over 25 nations represented and over 1,000 marchers in the parade procession. After the parade, attendees can head to Festival Park, where over two dozen food vendors will serve authentic dishes from their home countries, with many using “grandma’s” recipes. This year, the public can expect cuisines from Guyana, the Philippines, India and Puerto Rico, to name a few. Visitors wanting to get ahead of holiday shopping will have a variety of unique handmade goods to choose from in the festival Arts Market.

Visitors will be greeted with an array of activities and entertainment throughout the day. The children’s area will feature a giant bounce house, visual art activities, as well as an Instrument Petting Zoo presented by the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Scheduled performances for this year include the Philippine American Club of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Latin Dance, Azerbaijan Friendship Organization and more.

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is grateful for the generous support of its sponsors, including T-Fiber, CBS17, Cumulus Media, Cape Fear Valley Health, TRP Sumner, United Bank, Dogwood State Bank, NC Arts Council, City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

Admission to the festival is free. For more information on the International Folk Festival, visit www.TheArtsCouncil.com/iff. 

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