Marshfield Cultural Fair Returns to UW-Marshfield/Wood County
The colorful tradition of the Marshfield Cultural Fair continues on Saturday, February 25, 2017 from 10 am to 4 pm at the University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County campus at 2000 West 5th Street. It is a free-admission and open-to-the-public event.
“The Enchanting World of Puppets” presented by Heart of the Beast Puppeteers starts the event at 10 am in the auditorium. Children and adults will experience a kaleidoscope of small to larger than life puppets, masks, and marionettes with dynamic forms and styles. At 1 pm, they also will perform “The Loon’s Song” to extend the puppet array even farther.
A Balkan band from Milwaukee named Prazna Flasa (Empty Bottle) will introduce tamburitza music to our Cultural Fair audience at noon in the gymnasium. Accordion, bass, bugarija, prim, violin, cello and other tambura instruments combine to produce a southeastern European-type music that is once again gaining popularity.
The Zhong Yi Kung Fu Lion Dance Troupe at 3 pm will present a Chinese New Year’s cultural tradition centered on a folk-art story of a lion, a symbol of power and wisdom, seeking good luck and fortune through ‘plucking’ some greens. Drums lead the dance movements as well as cymbals and gongs to tell the story often performed by martial artists in colorful costumes.
Joining these performers will be others in a wide range of cultural traditions. Janelle’s Irish Dance group, Ecuadorian music, country line dancing, the Main Street Academy of Dance, and Indian Shama will fill the roster.
A Children’s Activity Center will offer craft projects to young attendees, multiple ethnic food menu options will be available, and various vendors will provide information and materials related to the Fair.
The theme this year is “Kindness Counts”, and an area dedicated to building bridges in social situations will highlight practical methods to decrease bullying and fear. The Marshfield Cultural Fair started years ago with the hope of building bridges in our community, and that hope continues.
