thumb|Mexican dance performance at the 2025 Holiday Folk Fair International thumb|Heritage Lane at the 2023 Holiday Folk Fair International
The '''Holiday Folk Fair''' is an annual three-day festival celebrating cultures from around the world. Thousands of visitors attend the Fair each year. It is held the weekend before Thanksgiving in West Allis, Wisconsin, at the Wisconsin Exposition Center of Wisconsin State Fair Park. It is billed as the largest indoor international festival in America.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bahamas turns on charm at Wisconsin annual Holiday Folk Fair – The Nassau Guardian |url=https://thenassauguardian.com/2017/11/24/bahamas-turns-charm-wisconsin-annual-holiday-folk-fair/ |website=thenassauguardian.com |accessdate=5 September 2018}}</ref> The Fair is sponsored and organized by the International Institute of Wisconsin, a not-for-profit social service agency that promotes cultural understanding. Al Durtka is its current president.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Folk Fair celebrates culture of water |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/festivals/2016/11/14/holiday-folk-fair-celebrates-culture-water/93119544/ |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |accessdate=5 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
The Fair offers entertainment, worldwide food, art displays, vendors, and demonstrations. An example of such food could be egg rolls, strudel, scones, falafel, pizzelle, sushi. The main entertainment takes place on two floors, the All Nations Theater and the Music Pavilion. Dancers representing over 30 nations perform for the crowds.
== History == The first Holiday Folk Fair was held on December 10, 1944.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milwaukee History Timeline |url=http://www.chudnowmuseum.org/milwaukee-history-timeline-1912-1945.html |website=Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear |accessdate=5 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="news"/> Despite a violent snowstorm, 3,500 people showed up and took part in the event.<ref name="news">{{cite news |title=The Milwaukee Journal - Google News Archive Search |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19741119&id=5QcqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-igEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5738,5489901&hl=en |accessdate=5 September 2018 |work=news.google.com}}</ref> In 1947 the Fair became a two-day event, and Friday evenings were added in 1964. The Fair was formerly held at what's now the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.<ref>{{cite web |title=Folk Fair isn't the same |url=https://onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/folkfairblog.html |website=OnMilwaukee.com |accessdate=5 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref> It was also hosted at the Henry Maier Festival Park for one year, before being located to the Wisconsin State Fair Park.<ref name="news"/>
== References == {{reflist}} == External links == *[http://www.folkfair.org Holiday Folk Fair website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050215124654/http://www.jsonline.com/onwisconsin/arts/nov04/275981.asp "Foods, exhibits to reflect new immigrants' influences", ''Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel'', November 17, 2004.] *[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19951117/ai_n10216846 "Fair is ultimate experience in food, folks and fun", ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', November 17, 1995.]
{{coord|43.018052|-88.014339|region:US_type:landmark|display=title}} Category:Annual fairs Category:Music festivals in Wisconsin Category:Folk festivals in the United States Category:Tourist attractions in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Category:1944 establishments in Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin State Fair Category:Music festivals established in 1944