New England Folk Festival runs Friday through Sunday

Once again, the New England Folk Festival returns to Mansfield, Mass., this weekend (April 25-27). In true folk spirit, hundreds of musicians and volunteers donate their talents to this hugely attended event. The festival, begun originally in 1944, has been held the past couple of years in the Mansfield high and middle schools.

The festival (read its history) is known for its blend of folk, square and contra dancing, music, international foods, crafts, performances, family activities and more.

It’s not unusual to see folks carrying their instruments to workshops or jamming in the yard. Others just wear their dancing shoes for the wide variety of dancing offered.

Hundreds of programs are offered, starting 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, from “Spanish Civil War Songs & Letters” and a documentary on the “Serbian Folk Trumpet Festival” (Friday) to “Songs to Heal Our Planet” or “Grateful Dead Folk Roots” (Saturday) to “Russian Cossack Dances,” “Clawhammer Banjo” and “Open Waltzing” (Sunday).

The schedule is huge. But if you like folk music, there’s a ton of it coming right to your own back yard! Full festival tickets are $75, but prices vary (see chart below). For more information, visit the NEFFA web site at http://www.neffa.org.

Type	Friday	Sat. Day, Sat. Eve. or Sun.	Entire Festival
Adult Non-Member	$20	$25	$75
Adult NEFFA Member	$15	$22	$65
Senior (60+) Non-Member	$15	$20	$60
Senior (60+) NEFFA Member	$10	$17	$50
Young Adult (18-24)	$10	$17	$50
Teen (13-17)	$10	$10	$30
Child	$5	$5	$15
Pre-schoolers	free

~ by folkmaster on April 23, 2008.