For 70 years, the International Institute of Wisconsin has staged an annual festival known as the Holiday Folk Fair, and it opens again Friday at the Wisconsin Expo Center at State Fair Park.
Another name for the event might as well be Gastronomic Fest.
Because in spite of the entertainment and the crafts, the big draw for the fest is the spectacular array of food prepared by each ethnic community. You have to be careful about what you are mixing, but for a foodie trip around the world, it’s hard to beat the Folk Fest.
Al Durtka is the executive director of the institute, and he talks eloquently about this year’s theme, "Celebrate the Culture of Community."
"This is the oldest annual indoor cultural event in this country," Durtka said. "And it is truly about community. It’s not a geographic thing. It’s about a shared heritage, shared around language, music, food – a community of people."
Every year, the Folk Fair comes up with one or two fascinating exhibits that really open your eyes to the world around you.
One of the missions of the International Institute is to assist immigrants and refugees who come to Milwaukee.
"This year we have an exhibit about the Burmese refugees who are settling here," Durtka said. "You might think of Burma as one country, but there are dozens of languages and different communities. Our exhibit will be very enjoyable and educational. I’m looking forward to it."
The food, though, is still the star at the Folk Fair.
Oh, you have your usual stuff, like Italian pizza, Irish corned beef, German strudel and Mexican tacos. One of the things I’ve always liked at the fair are the cevapi, which is a grilled chopped beef sausage from Bosnia. There is nothing else like it that I’ve ever tasted before.
The Folk Fair expects to draw about 50,000 this weekend. It runs Friday through Sunday and more information is available at the Folk Fair's website.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
