Folklore Village provides a broad range of artistic, cultural, and recreational programs. Our year round schedule of over 100 events and activities includes:
- Saturday night potlucks and social dances.
- Concerts featuring master folk artists.
- Folk culture learning retreat weekends
- Classes and workshops in the traditional arts.
- Special activities and events for kids and families.
- Folklife education programs for schools.
- Historic preservation projects.
- Environmental restoration projects.
- Special programs for groups and organizations.
- Outreach to our local and regional communities through education, arts and humanities programs as well as social services.
From our windswept ridge in the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin, Folklore Village overlooks gently contoured fields, dairy farms, nearby woods and a prairie restoration project. Our 94 acre site includes:
- Farwell Hall, a 5,500 square foot facility with two beautiful hardwood dance floors, exhibit and classroom spaces and a restaurant-quality kitchen.
- Wakefield School, an 1893 one-room school house.
- Plum Grove Church, built in 1882, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Numerous programs, weddings and other special celebrations are held in this historic building.
- Rustic Bunkhouses provide overnight housing for cultural retreat weekends.
- Preservation of the 1848 Wisconsin home of Norwegian immigrant Aslak Olsen Lie, a renowned craftsman and community leader, is currently in progress on site. Lie is a celebrated historic figure and is considered one of Wisconsin’s important European immigrants.
- Tall Grass Prairie Restoration Project includes over 30 relic species of remnant prairie and many grassland bird species. A trail leads you through the prairie and onto a 30’ bridge overlooking an 1800s lead mining area.
See us in action – from Midsummer Festival 2007, with a message from previous Executive Director, Doug Miller.
Folklore Village // Documentary from Jackson J. Eagan on Vimeo.