Ferdinand Folk Festival this Saturday - Dubois County Free Press, Inc.

The 10th annual family and environmentally-friendly—and free—Ferdinand Folk Festival is this Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Schedule and description of events below)

On the lawn of our beautiful 18th Street Park, start your day with yoga, and enjoy a full day of live, original music on the NextEra Energy Main Stage, solar-powered by Whole Sun Designs Inc.

On the Kyana Woodstock Market Stage, enjoy some of the region’s best singer-songwriters. Throughout the park, children activities, sponsored by co-presenting MasterBrand, can enjoy fun, interactive music programs, yoga for kids, a dog and clown show, storytelling, a concert, and much more.

Also, surrounding the Market Stage, visit the large and diverse array of artisan and food booths, along with many environment and wellness exhibits and demonstrations in the shaded market area. Special thanks to Best Home Furnishings for co-presenting the festival.

After many months of planning, the day has arrived to celebrate our 10th annual Ferdinand Folk Festival! The Folk Fest volunteer group thanks everyone—our founding sponsors, our MC Bill Potter, The Ferdinand News, returning and new sponsors, the town leadership and employees, past committee members, neighbors, in-kind volunteers, musicians, singer-songwriters, artists, environment/wellness leaders, children’s presenters, food vendors, and Tent Talk speakers—for partnering with us to make this milestone festival an extra special event in the region. For this 10th year, we have over 10 new features to help celebrate the day.

We welcome the citizens of Ferdinand and the surrounding communities to our town’s beautiful 18th Street Park. We wish each of you in attendance a wonderful day of relaxation, music, art, education, and fun. Be safe and enjoy your day.
Rock Emmert and Kris Lasher, co-coordinators; Chris James, town manager and festival chair; Sue Fink, Brent Sicard, Melody Vaal, and Randy Vaal.

SCHEDULES

Music

NextEra Energy Main Stage

100% Solar-Powered by Whole Sun Designs Inc.

11:00 – 11:45 am Regional Singer-Songwriter Showcase

Noon – 12:30 pm The Strings of Indian Creek

12:45 – 1:30 pm Beau Troesch

1:45 – 2:45 pm Amber Rubarth

3:00 – 4:00 pm Honeysuckle

4:15 – 5:30 pm The Way Down Wanderers

5:45 -7:00 pm Chastity Brown with band

7:30 – 9:00 pm Bruce Cockburn

Kyana Woodstock Market Stage (between Main Stage sets)

Folk Fest Singer-Songwriter Showcase Winners

11:45 – noon The BurmaShaver(s)

12:30 – 12:45 pm Laura Rose & the Briars

1:30 – 1:45 pm Jacob McDaniel

2:45 – 3:00 pm The Burch Brothers

4:00 – 4:15 pm Redwood Preservation Society

5:30 – 5:45 pm Katie Didit

7:00 – 7:15 pm Clayton N. Schroeder

Children’s Activities

All Day: Strings, Inc., Instrument Handling & Interaction, market area

All Day: Big Bounce Play Town, softball diamond outfield

All Day: Playground and Musical Park, east of market area

All Day: Children’s Chalkboard Dream Wall, lower shelterhouse

All Day: Children’s Playground and Musical Park, east of softball field and market

Noon – 12:30 pm: Strings, Inc. Concert, lower shelterhouse

12:30 – 1:00 pm: Yoga for Children, upper lawn from main stage

12:45 – 1:45 pm: Bonzer Productions: Bizzo and Bindi, lower shelterhouse

2:00 – 2:30 pm: The Hammer and Hatchet Concert, lower shelterhouse

2:45 – 3:15 pm: “T-Bone’s Party Time!” Children 2 – 5, lower shelterhouse

3:30 – 4:30 pm: Bonzer Productions, Bizzo and Bindi, lower shelterhouse

All-Ages Activities, Workshops, Features

All Day, Food, Art, Environment / Wellness Educators, shaded area east of softball field

All Day, Solar-Powered Main Stage, by Whole Sun Designs Inc.

All Day: Dubois County Humane Society Meet and Greet, market area and throughout park

All Day, Juggler Chet Pope, main lawn, see workshop at 2:30.

All Day, Mainland Ukes, tent in art market, ukulele raffle, to help keep Folk Fest free

All Day, 1974 Volkswagon Bus on Display, Danny Schnell, behind softball field fence

All Day, Renewable Energy Puppets–Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Hydro, throughout park (pending)

All Day: Beautiful Nature Trails and Disc Golf Course, south of festival area

10:00 – 10:45 am: Morning Flow Yoga (teens + adults), by Samantha Knies Gray, hillside above main stage

Early afternoon: Carpenter Owl Tiny House “Concert Car”, east of playground

1:00 – 5:00 pm Turners’ Circus Aerial Dancers, near merchandise tent

1:00 – 1:30 pm: “Why Didn’t I Play the Ukulele before Now?” Workshop by Thom Pallozola, upper shelterhouse

1:00 – 1:45 pm: IndyFringe Comedic Storyteller, market area

2:00 – 4:00 pm: Meet and Greet The Talon Trust, Live Birds of Prey, green tent in market area

2:00 – 2:45 pm: IndyFringe Magician, market area

2:30 – 3:30 pm: The Juggling Dragon Workshop, by Chet Pope, lawn behind right field fence

3:00 – 3:45 pm: IndyFringe Comedic Storyteller, market area

4:00 – 4:45 pm: IndyFringe Magician, market area

4:00 – 5:00 pm: Songwriting Workshop, by Amber Rubarth, upper shelterhouse

5:15 – 6:00 pm: Songwriters’ Circle, by Clayton N. Schroeder, upper shelterhouse

Tent Talks (east of playground)

North Tent

1:00 pm My Experience on a Canadian Organic Farm, by Hailei Gehlhausen,

2:00 pm Homegrown Folk, by Andy Hagedorn Family Band

3:00 pm Creating Comedy, by standup comedian Clint Hall

4:00 pm Producing Hoosier Hometown Live Radio Show, by producers of Paoli’s popular show

South Tent

1:00 pm Carpenter Owl Tiny House “Concert Car”, by Daniel Weddle Carpenter

2:00 pm (at Mainland Uke tent), Ukulele Serge in Popularity, by Mike Hater, Mainland Ukes

3:00 pm (at green tent in market area) “Learning to Fly”: Rescue, Rehab, Release of Raptors, by Talon Trust volunteers

4:00 pm Movement, Healing, Wellness, by Kara Schmidt

ALL NEW ATTRACTIONS, DETAILS FARTHER BELOW

General

1. Solar-Powered Main Stage, by Whole Sun Designs Inc., all day, main lawn

2. IndyFringe on Wheels storyteller and magician, 1, 2, 3, 4 pm Eastern, market area

3. Carpenter Owl Tiny House “Concert Car” early afternoon, east of playground

4. “Mainland Ukes” Ukelele booth and ukulele raffle for Folk Fest, art market, all day

5. “Thomdawg’s Music” handmade musical instruments, market area, all day.

6. 1974 Volkswagon Bus on Display, all day, behind outfield fence

7. Morton Energy Demo, by Jim Daniels Solar panels power generation, all day, market area

Children’s Activities

8. Bonzer Productions Dog Clown Show, 12:45, 3:30 pm Eastern, lower shelterhouse

9. T-Bone’s Party Time! by Thom Pallozola, Interactive Music Program for Children, ages 2 to 5, 2:45 – 3:15 pm Eastern, lower shelterhouse

10. Interaction with violins and other instruments, Strings, Inc., all day, market area

Workshops

11. “Why Didn’t I Play the Ukulele before Now?”Ukulele Starter Workshop, by Thom Pallozola, 1:00 – 1:30 pm Eastern, upper shelterhouse

12. The Juggling Dragon Workshop, by Chet Pope, 2:30 pm Eastern, behind right field fence

NEW ATTRACTIONS, DETAILS

All times are Eastern. Times and locations subject to change.

Bonzer Productions: Bizzi and Bindi

12:45 – 1:45 pm: Bonzer Productions: Bizzo and Bindi, lower shelterhouse

3:30 – 4:30 pm: Bonzer Productions, lower shelterhouse

Meet Aussies Bizzo and Bindi!

Bizzo loves playing drums, skateboarding, and playing ball with audiences. Bizzo’s name is Aussie slang for “Funny Business”! He was featured in the AllTech commercial for the World Equestrian Games, Kentucky Lottery’s “Flying Hot Dog” TV spot and in print for Scott’s Lawn Care products.

Bindi is an exceptional learner and high energy performer. Not only is she lightning fast, but she is also an amazing jumper, with awesome spinning, balancing, and hoop jumping talent. In keeping with Bonzer’s tradition of Aussie names, they named Bindi after the daughter of the late Australian wildlife expert, Steve Irwin, “The Crocodile Hunter”. Bindi also has the affectionate disposition perfect for retirement and nursing homes.

Bizzo and Bindi perform for live shows, lecture demonstrations, commercials, and industrial work.

Diane Wasnak (aka Pino) is a world-renowned physical comic/mime/animal trainer, performer in Cirque du Soleil, the “Taganai” Russian Circus, “Busker Alley”on Broadway, NYC, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Marin Shakespeare, Athens West Theatre Company, and Stage One Children’s Theatre. Barb Polk is a singer, voice actress and music composer for Bonzer Productions’ videos and shows, Discovery Channel’s “Big Job”, and KFC, LaZBoy, Kentucky Carpenters’ Union jingles. She’s also a vocalist with “Barb & Eddie”, The Doo-Wop All Stars and The Don Krekel Orchestra. For more info, visit http://www.dianewasnak.com BonzerPage.html.

In 2015, Bonzer Productions won a Telly Award for their work with The Palo Alto Humane Society on their video, “It’s A Dog’s Day”. It was a great honor to receive this “cousin” of the Emmy Award from among more than 12,000 films and videos submitted. Diane and Barb provided voices, puppeteering, and live action for the video, while Cooey and Bizzo starred as the “Sad” and “Happy” dogs in the story.

“T-Bone’s Party Time!”

by Thom Pallozola

2:45 – 3:15 pm Eastern

Interactive music program for children ages 2 to 5

lower shelterhouse

Children will sing, dance, and march around “as we sing songs about our pets, the ABC’s, and our friends”.

Thom Pallozola plays in two rock-and-roll bands and two ukulele driven bands. The ukulele bands are the Flea Bitten Dawgs, jazz, Americana, ukulele music. They are a trio with two vocal/ukulele players plus a percussionist. This act tours through 12 states and toured England and Belgium. The second group is the Shruti Nadis, a duo act with Thom playing ukulele and shruti box plus a percussionist. They play music for yoga sessions and meditation sessions as well as concerts. This act tours through three states. Since 2006 Thom has been a children’s entertainer in the “Babaloo and T-Bone Respec-Ta-Lecka-Hi Song Writing Workshop” for K through 6 th grade, and as T-Bone, an act for pre-school children. When not touring, Thom runs Thomdawg’s Music. He makes hand-make musical shakers, kazoos, and drums sold on tour and at festivals. Visit his booth in the art market.

The Hammer and The Hatchet Children’s Concert

2:00 – 2:30

lower shelterhouse

The Hammer and The Hatchet will entertain children with delightful American roots, hill country pickin’ rooted in Brown County, Indiana. John Bowyer, The Hammer, is a virtuoso mandolin player and guitar player who has used his talents as a side man, studio musician, and front man for projects like Old Truck Revival, Punkin’ Holler Boys, Chris Dollar Band, Avocado Chic, and more. Jayme Hood, The Hatchet, has become his musical soulmate. The Americana sound that they have created is bluegrass inspired and rich in harmony.

IndyFringe Theatre on Wheels

1:00 – 1:45 pm: Comedic Storyteller

2:00 – 2:45 pm: Magician

3:00 – 3:45 pm: Comedic Storyteller

4:00 – 4:45 pm: Magician

All ages

Just south of Market Stage

Rolling into Ferdinand will be Fringe on Wheels–a mobile theatre which brings performances, classes, and entertainment to sites all around the state. A magician and a comedic storyteller will be accompanying IndyFringe to entertain guests at the Ferdinand Folk Festival. The colorful van, with “Fuel Your Inspiration” painted on the side, serves multiple purposes—a roving ambassador for the arts, performance opportunites for emerging artists, street theatre for communities that want new and exciting entertainment options, and more. IndyFringe was honored to be among the 17 organizations awarded the Lilly Endowment Strengthening Indianapolis through Arts & Cultural Innovation grant, which allowed IndyFringe to build Fringe on Wheels, a Ford Transit Van outfitted with portable staging, sound equipment, lighting, and more. The goal is to bring Fringe On Wheels to schools, community centers, and underserved communities. Fringe on Wheels will roll out to local parades, fairs and festivals, sporting events, neighborhood centers, university campuses, and the annual IndyFringe Festival. IndyFringe exists to encourage, support and assist independent artists by providing an accessible, affordable outlet that draws diverse elements of the community together and inspires creative experience through the arts. For additional info, visit http://www.indyfringe.org/fringe-wheels.

“Why Didn’t I Play the Ukulele before Now?”

Starter Course for All Ages

by Thom Pallozola

1:00 – 1:30 pm Eastern

Upper shelter house

In this 30 minute starter course on the ukulele, learn some basic chords, and strums, for people to get a feel for playing the ukulele. “We’ll use them on a song we’ll learn,” states Thom. Thom started his musical endeavor in 1962 when he was forced to take guitar lessons by his parents. “I enjoyed playing the guitar, but not the practice,” he says. “I picked up an old banjo ukulele we had around the house and started fiddling with it in 1964. My first time on stage was in 1965 in front of 1,500 people at a guitar recital. I was part of a 15 person guitar orchestra. I played as the musician for my class while in elementary school. I picked up the electric guitar in 1966 and started playing in rock and roll bands and surfer bands. I’ve never stopped playing since 1962. In 1993, I picked up the ukulele again. I’d spent much time in the hospital with my son and found it to be easier to have than a guitar. In 2006, I got my first custom-made ukulele and played it out in public, surprising many people with the versatility of the instrument. As I like to tell the audience, ‘I play a little guitar!’.”

The Juggling Dragon Workshop

by Chet Pope

All ages

2:30 – 3:30 pm

lawn behind right field fence

Have you ever thought it would be fun to know how to juggle? Here’s your chance. Anyone who would like to learn to juggle or get help with a new pattern is welcome. If you want to get help with progressing to clubs and passing clubs, that could be offered as well. Participants will go over the basics on how to get started with a cascade and few other patterns with balls or clubs. There will be balls for up to 20 people to use during the workshop.

Chet learned how to juggle just over a year ago. “It has totally changed my life,” he says. “It has helped me to be mindful in the things that I do, and no matter how many times that I fail at something, I can always pick myself up, or the ball, and try again. So, come and join me for some fun and learn how to juggle!”

Mainland Ukes

by Mike Hater

All day, market area

Mainland Ukes is a homegrown family business based in Brown County, Indiana, dedicated to providing quality performance ukuleles at a great price. “Our small company started because we love the ukulele,” states owner Mike Hater. “We always enjoy meeting others who feel the same way.” Mainland Ukes proudly supports several schools and regional clubs, encouraging folks to enrich their lives with music. The business also hosts the Brown County Ukulele Festival, the Ukulele World Congress, and are involved with several ukulele and musical events in the Midwest and beyond. “If you are looking for a new hobby, something to keep you away from the television, something that is a little bit of a challenge and a whole lot of fun, ukulele might be for you.” Enjoying a resurgence in popularity across the Midwest, the happy little instrument is bringing the joy of music to many people’s lives. Schools and libraries are looking to the ukulele as a way to introduce people to the world of music.

Strings, Inc., Violin Instrument Interaction

All day, market area

Kids will be introduced to the regional music education group Strings, an organization dedicated to professional personalized violin instruction. Children also will have the opportunity to hold and handle musical instruments.

Strings, Inc., the only organized string music education program in the region, is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to providing professional personalized violin instruction for students. Although located primarily in the Jasper-Ferdinand area, during its history Strings, Inc., has served students from Dubois, Spencer, Orange, Pike, Daviess, Gibson, Martin and Crawford counties. The organization was formed in part because local school districts in these counties do not offer formal orchestral, stringed instrument instruction in their schools. Using the Suzuki method of instruction, the program helps children learn how to read notes. The philosophy, recognized and used worldwide as a great tool for the training of the arts, is designed to develop concentration, awareness, and attention in student’s growing appreciation for the art of music. For more info, visit https://www.facebook.com/Strings-Inc-503194133092974/ and https://stringsinc.wordpress.com/.

Morton Energy: Solar Panel Demonstration

by Jim Daniels

All day, market area

Jim Daniels will demonstrate how solar panels hooked to a fan and light generate electricity. Also present might be a small pedal device so people can generate some electricity of their own. Jim is a lifelong resident of Evansville, retired from Recycling Coordinator Vanderburgh County Solid Waste District, Past involvement with Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve, Izaak Walton League, and Sustainable Evansville. He is currently a consultant for Morton Solar and Electric.

Carpenter Owl Tiny House “Concert Car” and “Broomsticks Bakery”

early afternoon

east of playground, near Tent Talks

The Concert Car tiny house is a 20-seat venue mobile living room venue where interested festival musicians will perform a song or two on camera. The tiny house is set up to live stream and film small shows. (In the future Carpenter Owl would like to add 4 more seats and sleeping space so that 6 musicians can travel together.) The company hopes to arrange bigger tours in the future and are actively looking for collaborators. Also making an appearance at the Folk Fest will be The Broomsticks Bakery–a vegan bakery fully licensed for use in Monroe County. For more info, visit https://www.carpenterowl.com/.

1974 VolksWagon Bus on Display

by Danny Schnell

All day

Location TBD

Danny Schnell has always had a love of cars, although “I am not mechanically inclined, which certainly would be beneficial,” he states. He has had many cars in his life including Mustangs, Corvettes, Chevelle, Camaro, vans (“back when they were hippie style before soccer Moms drove them”), and numerous others. Currently, he has 3 Chevy Corvair convertibles, a 1977 Chevy LUV (which he purchased new), and a 1974 VW bus which he has owned for 7 years. “I have never been a fan of foreign cars, but I must say my bus is ranking pretty high on my all-time favorite list,” Danny states. “I have never had a vehicle that draws so much attention from such a wide range of people. It is not what you would consider a trophy winner at car shows, but I do enjoy the attention it gets. I enter it in some of the local car shows, but that has become secondary to my bicycling.”

RETURNING FEATURES, DETAILS

All times are Eastern. Times and locations subject to change.

Morning Flow Yoga (Teens + Adults) @ The Ferdinand Folk Festival

by Samantha Knies Gray, RYT (Fire Horse Yoga)

10:00 – 10:45 am

Hillside east and above the Main Stage

Samantha Knies Gray, RYT, from Fire Horse Yoga in Jasper will be leading a free, beginner-friendly, morning flow yoga class to kick-off the festival in a mindful and positive way. Extra mats and props will be available, but please bring your own mat (or a towel/blanket) if you have one, as well as sunscreen and a water bottle. Please notify Samantha of any health conditions before beginning the class.

Samantha made yoga a daily part of her life when she lived in Carmel, Indiana – maintaining a home practice when she wasn’t sweating it out during hot classes after work. She began practicing at Fire Horse after moving back home to Dubois County in January 2016. Samantha fell in love with yin yoga after taking one class with Julia Jalles and knew that she wanted to bring this practice to the lives of others. She finished her 200-hour teacher training at Fire Horse in November 2017 and is passionate about the benefits of all yoga, but especially yin, restorative, and children’s yoga.

In addition to teaching, Sam attends regular Yin and Vinyasa classes at Fire Horse and maintains a daily practice at home with her two young daughters. She’s an avid believer in taking time out of our busy lives to rest and restore our bodies and minds. Samantha’s intention is to bring a deep level of peace and an awareness of body and breath to every student she teaches.

Yoga for Children

by Samantha Knies Gray

12:30 pm Eastern

Upper lawn from main stage

With the incorporation of a fun story, Samantha Knies Gray, RYT, will teach gentle, fun stretches that children can do every day. She will also focus on breathing and meditation techniques to help calm the body and mind. Children should dress comfortably. Blankets and a stuffed animal friend or doll for Savasana (resting pose) are welcomed. Samantha, a native of Bretzville and graduate of Forest Park and Purdue University, is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. In addition to teaching regular yoga classes at Fire Horse Yoga and the YMCA, she attends regular classes and training and maintains a daily practice at home, believing in taking time out of our busy lives to rest and restore our bodies and minds. Samantha strives to bring a deep level of peace and an awareness of body and breath to every student she teaches. A mother to two daughters—ages 3 and 7—she has been incorporating yoga and meditation techniques into their lives since they were born. The power of a regular yoga practice for children protects them from injury and helps them manage their reactions and emotions.

Songwriters’ Workshop: “Access Your Deeper Self through Song”

by main stage artist Amber Rubarth

4:00 – 5:00 pm Eastern

upper shelterhouse

Bring pen and paper.

Join internationally-acclaimed songwriter Amber Rubarth in this stimulating workshop using songwriting and improv techniques to access deeper levels of your creative being! Many people have difficulty accessing their creative selves by focusing too much on the end result, placing unnecessary judgment or pressure on the process, or never starting out of fear of failure. This workshop helps reconnect to the child inside who is born an artist (every child is an artist!) as we play with tools to access curiosity, subconscious, and wonder. Come ready to have fun challenging yourself to open doors to deeper parts of your self!

Dubois County Humane Society Meet and Greet

All day, market area and throughout park

The Dubois County Humane Society will have a team out and about in the park all day during the Folk Fest. Their mission will to educate the community about the services the organization offers and introduce festival patrons to dogs hoping to be adopted into loving, forever homes. In addition to mingling with the crowd, the Humane Society will also have a booth where snacks (for humans and dogs) will be sold. New this year, the Humane Society will be selling raffle tickets with top prizes of a trip to Jamaica and a Caribbean Cruise. The tickets are $40 each with only 500 tickets being sold. The drawing is on November 1.

Big Bounce Fun House Play Town

All day, softball diamond outfield

Children can spend a portion of the day getting exercise climbing inside and above a variety of

inflatables, getting their faces painted, and other fun activities.

Children’s Dream Wall

All day, lower shelter house

Inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, the Folk Fest planners will

provide a 4′ x 8′ wall where children will have an opportunity to share in writings or drawings

their hopes and dreams for their community and their world.

Children’s Playground and Musical Park

All day, east of market area

Children will find a variety of fun, state-of-the-art playground options, including a set of four outdoor musical instruments gifted to the community by the 2017 Leadership Academy Project. The Folk Fest, with its commitment to children and music, happily contributed funds to support the project. Special thanks to the Ferdinand Park Department and Brett Pund for his role in helping to make music a year-round feature in the park.

Yoga for Children

by Samantha Knies Gray

12:30 pm Eastern

Upper lawn from main stage

Meet and Greet Live Raptors

by Talon Trust volunteers

2:00 – 4:00 pm Eastern

Market area in the green Project ACORN tent

Children and adults will enjoy an interactive personal experience with live raptors such as a falcon, an owl, and possibly a hawk. Volunteers will answer questions and share stories of birds that have been injured and can’t survive in the wild, and now serve as ambassadors for their species. They will also tell birds that have recovered from an injury and set free. The Talon Trust, Inc., based in Evansville, serves the southwestern Indiana region and is a local, volunteer-based organization dedicated to education and the conservation of native raptors through rescue, rehabilitation, and, if possible, release. Operations are made possible through public, individual, and corporate donations, grants, and program fees. Volunteers operate all rescues and programs out in the community. Funding goes toward helping to feed and care for the injured birds as well as outreach programs. For more info, visit http://thetalontrust.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/thetalontrust/.

Strings, Inc., Violin Concert and Instrument Interaction

12:00 noon – 12:30 pm, lower shelter house

Children will experience a live violin concert by children! Kids will be introduced to the regional music education group Strings, an organization dedicated to professional personalized violin instruction. Children will also have the opportunity to hold and handle musical instruments after the concert in their tent nearby. Strings, Inc., the only organized string music education program in the region, is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to providing professional personalized violin instruction for students. Although located primarily in the Jasper-Ferdinand area, during its history Strings, Inc., has served students from Dubois, Spencer, Orange, Pike, Daviess, Gibson, Martin and Crawford counties. The organization was formed in part because local school districts in these counties do not offer formal orchestral, stringed instrument instruction in their schools. Using the Suzuki method of instruction, the program helps children learn how to read notes. The philosophy, recognized and used worldwide as a great tool for the training of the arts, is designed to develop concentration, awareness, and attention in student’s growing appreciation for the art of music. For more info, visit https://www.facebook.com/Strings-Inc-503194133092974/ and https://stringsinc.wordpress.com/.

Turners’ Circus

1:00 to 5:00 pm Eastern

near merch tent

The aerial dancers from Turners Circus are returning to the Folk Fest! From a freestanding rig positioned near the merch tent and main lawn, performers of all ages and skill levels will provide ambiance performances, taking turns on aerial fabric (silk), static trapeze, hoop (lyra), rope, and Spanish web. Throughout the park, ground performers will also provide juggling, hoop, poi, unicycling, stilts, acro, or other entertainment for artistic appeal.

Turners’ motto “Sound Mind, Sound Body” supports health and wellness, a prominent theme of the festival. Turners was founded on the principles of improving our democracy by promoting freedom and equality for all humanity, health and physical education, cultural education, and rational thinking–in order to advance the health, happiness and progress of humankind. It emphasizes intellectual, cultural growth, and moral character through special classes under qualified and competent instructors. It recognizes the family’s integral role and the harmonious education of the body and mind as the foundation of our communities.

For more information, visit http://www.louisvilleturners.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/turnerscircus/.

TENT TALKS

Two blue tents east of playground

All times are Eastern. Location: east of the playground, unless otherwise noted

TENT Talks draw on the spirit of the internationally-renowned TED Talks, a series of inspirational speeches on a wide variety of subjects. In a spirit of promoting awareness, growth, and healthy communities, the Ferdinand Folk Festival Tent Talks will focus on topics pertaining to environment/wellness, art, and music. In an informal, outdoor setting—under a blue canopy with ten chairs in a circle—with two sets of four roughly 45-minute concurrent talks/discussions running from 1:00 to 4:45, the speakers will include experienced and knowledgeable people from the region speaking about their respective subject matters. The talks and discussions will be limited to 30 to 45 minutes with 15-minute breaks so that folks can still take in most of the music and other activities if they choose.

TENT TALKS, Details

My Experience on a Canadian Organic Farm

by Hailei Gehlhausen

1:00 pm Eastern, North Tent

Hailei Gehlhausen, who is a recent graduate of the English Department at the University of Southern Indiana, started her first full-time teaching job at Perry Central Community Schools in January of 2019. As this past summer was her first summer off in nearly 10 years, Hailei decided to make use of it doing something(s) she’s passionate about, which landed her on a two-week road trip across America and another two-week stay on a farm in southern British Columbia through “WWOOF”.

WWOOF, which stands for “World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms”, is an organization that allows people of all ages to get involved in organic farming. Although workers within the program get “paid” in only room and board, they’ll most certainly walk away with a wealth of knowledge about growing their food in a sustainable manner and otherwise. For anyone who enjoys gardening, traveling, and simply learning about the ways and traditions of others, WWOOF is a great starting point. If you’re curious about what to expect or how to get involved, Hailei might have some answers for you.

Homegrown Folk

by Andy Hagedorn Family Band

2:00 pm Eastern, North Tent

Join Andy and his kids in a fun and informal talk about how they started their family band and how it has developed over the years. They’ll share stories about their experience and maybe offer a tip or two for others considering starting a family band. Attendees will also have an opportunity to hear a few of their songs unplugged and up close “in the round”. Andy has played in numerous bands over the years, but performing in public with his own children is “especially rewarding”.

Creating Comedy

by Clint Hall

3:00 pm Eastern, North Tent

Clint Hall has appeared with the Midwest Clean Comedy All Stars and is a winner of the 2019 Clean Comedy Challenge in Nashville, Tennessee. He will be discussing finding your individual comedy voice, constructing jokes, building a comedy set and the importance of keeping your sense of humor in an increasingly serious world. A former professional wrestler, Clint was born and raised in rural Indiana, the youngest of four children in a very funny household. He learned at a very early age, the best way to be heard by the rest of the family was to make them laugh. For more info, see https://www.facebook.com/Clint-Halls-Comedy-Page-165853420124184/.

Producing Hoosier Hometown Live Radio Show by producers of Paoli’s popular series

4:00 pm Eastern, North Tent

Hear firsthand about the creation of an amazing, recurring event in neighboring Orange County. Supporting opportunities for “creative aging”, the producers of Hoosier Hometown Live will share the story of Paoli’s radio show, which draws on the talents of local citizens of all ages to enhance quality of life. Imagine Garrison Keillor’s popular, live, public radio show Prairie Home Companion set in southern Indiana. This regularly sold-out, homegrown series happens four times a year. The next show is Nov. 15. The old-time radio show, filled with down-home music, tall tales written by local citizens, and a variety of other nonsense and creativity, includes audience participation and fun for the whole family. The show airs live on Orange County’s WSEZ, FM 98.7. All proceeds benefit the local community.