In the Dutchess County Spotlight
One River, Many Streams Folk Festival
Poughkeepsie's "One River, Many Streams Folk Festival" springs to life on Saturday, October 3 between the bridges at Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie! Dutchess County Arts Council Folk Arts Program's annual celebration of folk and traditional arts is concurrent with the grand opening of the pedestrian park Walkway Over the Hudson, just north of Waryas. The festival highlights music, dance and craft traditions of different cultural and ethnic groups living in our area.
You'll be dazzled by the many colors and sounds of musicians, dancers and traditional artisans from the region's diverse cultural, religious, ethnic, and occupational communities. Don't miss this, the only area festival of its kind. Performances are slated for 1-4pm and demos begin at 1pm.
Participating artists in the interactive crafts tent include members of numerous area groups: Mid-Hudson Chinese Community, Mid-Hudson Japanese Community, Ukrainian National Women's League regional chapter, and Mexican South Asian communities.
Dance is in the spotlight this year! The stage comes alive with a children's dance ensemble, plus an adult women's dance ensemble from the Chinese community, a children's dance ensemble from the Ukrainian community, students of Kuchipudi (a classical South Asian dance form pictured above,) traditional music of Latin American and Puerto Rico, and Japanese Taiko drumming. All of them are set before the backdrop of the Hudson River and the festivities on the Walkway.
The Walkway Parade, Walking on Air, begins at 1pm and may be seen there on the giant Jumbotron screen while you're in Waryas Park. The Arts Council's Folk Program brings this wide selection of high quality, authentic, and regional folk traditions and performance to the park free of charge. For information, contact the Arts Council at 845 454-3222 or www.artsmidhudson.org
