General Questions
Folklore Village strives to create a welcoming environment for both first-time participants and long-time participants. At the Festival of Christmas & Midwinter Traditions you will encounter both fellow first-time participants and participants whose families have been attending for generations. A few people have even attending all 79 years of the festival!
When you arrive a member of Folklore Village staff will check you in and get you oriented to our campus. If you arrive on December 28, a key part of that afternoon is decorating the main hall for the festival. You can expect to be drawn in on the decorating action, or welcomed into conversations as folks arrive for the festival.
Throughout the festival you will experience a range of activities: folk dancing, singing, music workshops, crafts, and lots and lots of food. The Festival of Christmas & Midwinter Traditions is not a dance camp; folk dancing is a component of Midwinter but you do not have to be a dancer to attend. At the heart of the Midwinter experience is the idea that people of all ages can make their own fun. Expect lots of shenanigans, skits, and jokes to arise over the course of the festival.
The festival begins on the afternoon of December 28 with check-in at 3pm, followed by Ostfriesen Tea at 4:30pm, dinner, and an evening party. December 29 and 30 feature a full slate of workshops and meals. These days begin with breakfast at 8:30am and run through the end of the evening party, usually around 10pm. December 31 begins the same way, with breakfast at 8:30am and a full day of workshops. The evening party on December 31 runs longer and later (more information in the question below, “What do I need to know about New Year’s Eve?”) The festival concludes with a 10am brunch on January 1.
The short answer: No!
The long answer: While full-time participation will provide you the most in-depth experience, we recognize that this is not possible or feasible for many. You are welcome to attend as much or as little of the festival as you like. Part-time options include a single day of the festival, a single workshop block, or a single tea. You can build the festival experience that works best for you.
All ages are welcome at the festival. Having a diverse range of participant ages makes for a better festival. Intergenerational exchange is a core tenant of Folklore Village’s philosophy.
In that spirit, kids are absolutely welcome and encouraged to attend the festival! Kids and teens may not attend the festival alone, however; a responsible adult must also be in attendance. If this adult is not a parent/guardian, a parent/guardian must fill out a form designating a trusted adult to be responsible for the child or teen. Please contact the Assistant Director, Kelli Emerson, at programs@folklorevillage.org to discuss this ahead of the festival.
On the festival schedule, particularly kid-friendly activities will be marked with a “K.” Kids are invited to attend any activity on the festival schedule (unless a minimum age has been specified), even those not marked “K.”
-Dancing shoes (non-marking soles to protect our beautiful dance floor!)
-Outdoor boots/shoes
-Winter clothing (coat, hat, gloves, etc)
-Layers (it can get very warm dancing, and very cold outside!)
-Water bottle and/or hot beverage mug marked with your name
-Folk costumes or fancy clothes for the New Year’s Eve party
-Flashlight, pillow, sleeping bag, towel (if you are staying at Folklore Village)
Many of Folklore Village’s buildings are historic buildings from the mid- to late-1800s, and all of Folklore Village’s buildings pre-date the ADA. The main building, Farwell Hall, is accessible on the main floor and features accessible bathrooms. All dance workshops, meals, teas, and evening parties take place on the accessible floor. Unfortunately, Farwell Hall does not have an elevator, so the upper floor balcony can only be reached by stairs. The second most frequently used building, the Plum Grove Church, has an accessible entrance. The Plum Grove Church is located across the street from Farwell Hall. Parking is available at both buildings.
If you have questions about accessibility and your experience at the festival, please call Folklore Village at (608) 924-4000.
This festival celebrates cultures and foodways from all over the world, and as such lunches and dinners will each have a cultural theme. Foodways are the cultural and social intersection of food and culture, traditions, and history.
Throughout the festival, meals will feature meat, dairy, gluten, and other ingredients. A gluten-free and a vegetarian option will be available at each meal for those who have registered as such.
If you have other dietary requirements, we will pass these on to our caterer. The catering team can typically accommodate a wide range of requirements. The earlier you register, the more likely the team will be to be able to accommodate your needs. Please note, if you have specific dietary requirements you likely will not find your meal on the buffet table at meal times. This is because we want to make sure someone does not accidentally eat your meal! Instead, please go to the kitchen where a meal will be held back for you. You can also consult with the kitchen at meal times on what food from the buffet line will be safe for you.
If you need to bring your own food, please contact Folklore Village at programs@folklorevillage.org or by calling (608) 924-4000. We have some limited food storage space available and are happy to work with you to find a solution that suits your needs.
Festival Schedule & Activities
Not at all! The Festival of Christmas & Midwinter Traditions is not a dance camp; dancing is only a piece of the experience. The Festival is a celebration of culture, community, and fun. Absolute beginners are welcome in dance workshops (and in all other workshops, for that matter). Because multiple workshops occur simultaneously, it is possible to attend the festival and not attend any dance workshops–but we recommend giving at least one a try! Similarly, you do not need to bring a partner to participate in dance workshops. Many of the dances taught at the festival do not require a partner. For those that do, there will be many other participants who have come solo.
Each day of the festival features an afternoon tea, typically around 4 – 5pm. Afternoon teas are a time to slow-down and socialize between a busy schedule of workshops and ahead of the nightly party. Most of the teas feature a cultural theme and may include a cultural presentation. Tea, coffee, and snacks or desserts are provided.
Each night of the festival features an evening party. Evening parties are simply a time for all festival participants to be together for dancing, singing, and fun. You can expect dancing (lead by the festival dance leaders or other community members), singing, games, skits, and snacks.
The first thing to know is there is not one but TWO auctions! The auctions are held on December 31 and are a crucial fundraiser for Folklore Village. The auctions feature items donated by participants–if you have something folksy, international, tasty, or handmade you’d like to donate, please bring it to the Folklore Village registration table or office by lunch on December 31. You will be required to fill out a form specifying what the item is and an approximate value. Auction donations are eligible for a donation acknowledgment.
The first auction at the festival is the live auction at 4:30pm on December 31. The auction is lead by an auctioneer and includes humor and skits. The live auction is usually where the “big ticket” items can be found.
Once the live auction concludes, the silent auction opens. The silent auction typically features smaller items and things that require more consideration than there is time for in the live auction. The silent auction runs until some time in the New Year’s Eve party (the exact end time will be announced multiple times).
Folklore Village accepts auction payments by cash, check, or card.
Most of the day unfolds like the rest of the festival, with dance workshops, singing workshops, crafts, and meals.
The New Year’s Eve party is the culmination of the festival. The night starts with a sumptuous dinner at 6:30pm. Many participants dress up in fancy clothes or folk costumes for the New Year’s Eve party, but this is not required.
The party follows dinner, beginning around 8pm. The evening party features folk dancing, a skit prepared earlier in the day by festival participants, and a singing showcase by participants in the singing workshops. At some point during the evening party (the exact time will be announced frequently), the silent auction will conclude.
Unlike the other evening parties, the New Year’s Eve party does not end around 10pm. At some point, the party will move to Folklore Village’s Plum Grove Church to sing carols, and at midnight we gather around a bonfire outside the church. The final phase of the party is a return to Farwell Hall for a New Year’s surprise. We can’t say more, but just know it’s worth staying up for.
The New Year’s Eve party runs late. Official programming typically wraps up around 2am, although a dedicated core often stays up the entire night. We recommend bringing sleeping bags for kids (or adults!); there are many places lay down if a quick rest is needed.
Unfortunately, no. Multiple workshops occur simultaneously. In any workshop block, you will have to choose which workshop to attend. For example, on the afternoon of December 29 you will have to choose between dance, festival band, basketry, and blacksmithing.
During the festival there are a couple workshops where we need to cap the number of people who can attend. These workshops are typically craft workshops with higher materials fees. Since not everyone will be able to attend, the materials fees for those workshops are passed on to only those participants who register for those workshops. Registration in these workshops is found in the registration form and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The community project is a drop-in space where participants can all work together on a single project. Sometimes the community project produces an item that is then for sale in the auction, and other times the community project is something that improves or beautifies Folklore Village.
The community project typically takes place in the balcony. Usually there is an instructor or leader supervising the project during the morning workshop sessions. The leader will show others how to contribute to the project. The project is available throughout the afternoons and evenings for drop-in work but typically the leader is not present outside of the morning workshop blocks.
The evening parties don’t plan themselves! A time-honored tradition at the Festival of Christmas & Midwinter Traditions is the idea that the best parties happen when participants take an active role in the planning. Ahead of the festival, Folklore Village staff will set the themes for evening parties. At the festival, participants will have the opportunity to sign up for party-planning shifts. A team of party planners will meet during the day (usually at lunch and/or after the tea) to decide the order of activities for that night’s party, make any decorations, and brainstorm any fun elements to add to the party. It’s really not as scary as it might seem–party planning is all about team work, creativity, and the willingness to be a little silly. On the morning of December 29, Johanna Gorman-Baer will lead a workshop on how to plan a party–this a great one, even if you aren’t sure you want to sign up for party planning.
Registration
Folklore Village uses an online registration form, which will be linked on our website when registration opens (usually in mid October). If you cannot register online, please call our office at (608) 924-4000. We can either take your registration over the phone or mail you a paper registration form. Folklore Village accepts cash, check, or card payments.
Probably! Folklore Village offers multiple scholarship options including both need-based and work-exchange scholarships. You can read more about each scholarship option on the main festival page. Contact programs@folklorevillage.org to enquire about scholarships.
You can always add things to your registration as long as the festival has not sold out. Contact programs@folklorevillage.org or call (608) 924-4000 and we can discuss how best to add items to your registration.
If you would like to decrease your registration, this will be treated like a cancellation (see the cancellation policy below).
We require at least 50% of your fees to be paid with registration. The remaining balance will be due 3 weeks before the festival. You are also welcome to pay in full when you register.
If you choose the pay with a card through our online registration portal, you will have to pay in full; the portal cannot manage partial payments. If you would like to pay 50% of your registration fees, please plan to either mail in cash or a check or to call our office at (608) 924-4000 with your card information.
Folklore Village will retain a $20 processing fee for any cancellations made more than 3 weeks before the start of a festival. After that date, $20, or 50% of the festival registration fee, whichever is greater, will be non-refundable. There will be no refunds if you cancel less than one week before the start of a festival. However, you may receive credit for a tax-deductible donation to Folklore Village equal to your payment amount minus the cost of any meals you registered for (as meal fees are still paid to our caterer).
Policies
Folklore Village does not sell or provide alcohol. Due to the family nature of the festival, alcohol is not encouraged. Class B beverages (wine, beer) are permitted.
By being on Folklore Village grounds you consent to photography/videography for promotional purposes and/or historical documentation. If you do not wish to be photographed by Folklore Village staff you must contact Folklore Village before the festival with a photo of yourself.
During the festival other participants are encouraged to take photos and videos. If you do not wish to be in these photos/videos, it is your responsibility to communicate this to other participants.
For the comfort and safety of all participants, pets (except service animals) are not permitted at the festival. Service animals are welcome. It is the owner’s responsibility to pick up after a service animal.
Our lost & found easily becomes a black hole, so we recommend that you mark all your belongings with your name. After the festival we will hold any lost and found items for 21 days, after which point the items will be donated or otherwise disposed. During that 21 day time frame we will ship any claimed items back to their owner, provided that the owner pays the shipping and handling expenses.
Have a question not answered here? Contact Folklore Village at (608) 924-4000 or by emailing programs@folklorevillage.org.
