Don't Miss the Texas Folklife Festival
by Carolyn Ernst
Despite what you may think, Texas is not all cowboys and oilmen. Our W-I-D-E O-P-E-N spaces were settled by pioneers of many nationalities. To celebrate the diversity of our population, each year the Institute of Texan Cultures, one of the three campuses of The University of Texas at San Antonio, hosts the Texas Folklife Festival. The dates for this year's Festival are June 7-10. It is well worth coming to San Antonio a day or two before the annual conference to attend this world-renowned event.
Thousands of participants from around the state take pride in preserving the folkways of their ancestors. The Texas Folklife Festival is celebrating 30 years of the most enlivening and adventurous international experiences in Texas. Ethnic groups from every corner of the state come together to share mouth-watering cuisine, traditional dances, homespun tales, finely crafted keepsakes and lively music during four unforgettable days! At last year's Festival, 43 ethnic groups were represented. The groups ranged from African, Alsatian, and Andean to Czech, Greek, Lao-Thai, Swedish, Ukranian, and Wendish. (In case you didn't know, the Wends are a people living along the Spree River in eastern Germany.) Would you believe that even the Canary Islanders had a contingent at the Festival?
Just what can you expect if you do decide to attend? Well, in Texas in June you have to make sure that there is always something to drink.
You will have your choice of several cool thirst quenchers. Last year some of the more exotic offerings were Lao/Thai Jasmine Tea, Lebanese Mint Tea, Mexican Aguas Frescas (Mexican soft drinks) or Hawaiian Tropical punchnot the canned stuff, but an authentic punch concocted by the ethnic Hawaiians. For the adult taste there was Spanish Sangria or Margarita de vino.
All the walking around will undoubtedly create a hearty appetite, especially as the enticing aroma of food wafts through the air. There are many delicious and mouth-watering foods to be had: Alsatian parisa, Belgian Waffles, Cajun boudin, Chinese rangoon puffs, Czech klobasniks, Danish aebleskiver, Filipino lumpia, German sausage, Greek souvlaki, Jewish bagel with lox, Lebanese tabouli, Norwegian lapskaus, Polish pierogi, Scottish haggis (Don't ask what's in it.), and of course our own Texas pecan desserts.
You can listen to music played by bagpipes, zithers, an oompah bandor by guitars or harmonicas. You will also hear the percussive emphasis of drums and castanets. All these can be considered authentic Texas music.
You will not be surprised to see exhibitions of Mexican folklorico, Spanish flamenco, or even German schottish dancing. On the other hand, the fact that you can also watch Indian raas, Portuguese jogo, Puerto Rican seis, Filipino tinikling, Italian tarantella or Dutch scaapmuts may be more startling. Whichever you choose, from the elegant waltz to the lively folklorico, it will be very entertaining.
If you get tired of music and dancing, take time to enjoy the wide range of ethnic crafts. The skill of the craftspeople is truly outstanding. You'll surely find a fine souvenir to take home.
But this Festival is for people who like to do more than just watch or listen. You can actually participate in and gain further appreciation for some of the crafts. See what is involved in making a holiday piñata. Create a bookmark out of horsehair. Design a Swedish straw ornament. Feeling domestic? Make soap, sew stitches on a quilt, weave a basket, or grind corn into meal. If you are really feeling adventurous, have your palm read. You can even become an honorary Texan.
Your admission to the Texas Folklife Festival, only $8.00 for an adult, includes admission to the Institute of Texan Cultures. The Festival is held on its 15-acre grounds on HemisFair Park in downtown San Antonio, an easy walk from the convention center. Located at the corner of Bowie Street and Durango Boulevard, the Institute serves as an educational center for the interpretation of the history and diverse cultures of Texas. It has the usual museum exhibits, but in addition there are wonderful life size dioramas, live exhibits of crafts, and even some hands on stuff. By itself, the Institute is also a wonderful experience. ITC will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the Festival, and hours during the rest of the week will correspond to the Festival hours of operation. And I almost forgot the best part about the Instituteit's air conditioned!
For more information, write Texas Folklife Festival, Institute of Texan Cultures, 801 S. Bowie St., San Antonio, TX 78205-3296; phone (210) 458-2300; or visit the Web site, www.texancultures.utsa.edu.
Carolyn may be reached at carolyn.ernst@ f1servicesinc.com.
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