2nd Northern Appalachian Folk Festial, Sept 5 & 6 Kickstarter

Celebrate the Music, Art, Folkways & Food of the people of Northern Appalachia, past & present. Join us in picturesque Indiana, PA! The 2nd Annual Northern Appalachian Folk Festival, September 5-6th, 2014, is truly a celebration of life and culture of the people who make their home in the Northern Appalachian region. Our free festival is held in Indiana, PA, an inviting town in the heart of the five-state region that includes sections of PA, OH, MD, NY & WV. Like last year, this second year of the festival will feature toe-tapping musical performances such as visits from Well-Strung and Grand Ole' Ditch and more. Our community driven workshops reflect regional ecology, history and culture with topics from "Edible Weed Walks" to "Flintknapping and Cordage Making" to "Underground Railroad, Passport to Freedom". This years festival will see the addition of artists and makers with the advent of a juried Art Fair highlighting the work of many creatives from the region. And our street fair features food vendors with offerings that mirror the diverse cultures now at home in the region- from pierogi to locally made maple syrup! Yum. The Festival is presented by The Center for Northern Appalachian Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in partnership with several other groups and businesses including the Indiana Arts Council, Evergreen Conservancy and Downtown Indiana, Inc. Many volunteers have already contributed hundreds of hours spent in hard core planning sessions. One of our volunteers who is recently retired is considering going back to work- because she used to 'work' way fewer hours a week before she became a volunteer! Her story illuminates the dedication to community that is at the heart of our Festival. If any part of our story rings true for you then you probably know what to do. Be a part of this effort and click on the "Back This Project" button to support the 2014 Festival. And then make plans to join us!