Folkmoot International Dance & Music Fest

The world comes to Western North Carolina for The North Carolina International Folk Festival! Folkmoot USA produces one of the largest and longest-running dance festivals in the world, and it continues to draw thousands of visitors to Haywood County in July.

The festival celebrates the dance and music of Appalachian and international cultural performers.

Folkmoot means “Meeting of the People” in old English, and they certainly provide opportunities for cultural exchange. Audiences are invited to meet the performers before and after performances and during other festival events.

Folkmoot's History
In 1973, Dr. Clinton Border, a Waynesville surgeon, accompanied a local square dance team to a folk festival in Sidmouth, England. There began the dream that would, 11 years later, become Folkmoot USA. Border was convinced that Western North Carolina, which was already steeped in tradition and dedicated to the preservation of its own heritage, was the perfect location for an international folk festival in the United States. The organization has hosted 8,000 performers from almost 150 countries. Folkmoot performers are primarily college students who serve as cultural ambassadors for their countries. The Folkmoot Festival is a strong example of international cultural diplomacy. 

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