Michigan Folk School holds annual Folk Festival with free demonstrations of traditional skills

If you’ve never experienced Michigan Folk School, have never heard of it, or simply haven’t decided to take a class, they have an event coming up that they hope will change that. The Michigan Folk School (MFS) holds its annual Folk Festival from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 17, at Staebler Farm County Park, 7734 Plymouth Road in Superior Township.

The nonprofit offers workshops and classes in traditional folk arts and crafts, from “blacksmithing to spoon carving, bushcraft, cooking, leatherworking, stained glass, and basketry,” according to MFS program coordinator Wade Buck.

The annual festival, which is free to all, provides “a wealth of information to be gathered within one stopping point,” says Buck, who organized the event alongside administrative assistant Amy Coomer.

“This is the perfect event for individuals who have never experienced the Folk School, maybe have never heard of it, or have heard of it but have not yet committed to taking a class,” Buck says.

Festivalgoers will be treated to demonstrations in beekeeping, natural dyeing, and other skills. They’ll also have the chance to meet instructors, ask questions, and join a community.

No prior experience is required — but Buck does expect to see some familiar faces.

“We have a very high return rate for our students,” he says. “They love coming in, talking about their experiences, what they’ve learned here, what they were surprised about, and sharing that with others.”

That means newcomers will have the chance to connect and hear “firsthand reviews…from other individuals who will share honestly and genuinely with them and invite them into this community.”

The festival is open to families and kids and will offer face painting as well as live music, food trucks, and ice cream from the newly opened Dixboro Dairy.

For the first time, the festival’s silent auction will be accessible online, where “people who unfortunately cannot attend can still bid on items that our instructors have made and donated in order to raise funds for the folk school,” says Buck. Previously, the silent auction was only available in person.

Michigan Folk School’s latest class schedule will be released by the end of the week, just in time for the festival. Slots fill up fast, says Buck, “which is awesome.”