Slater Mill hosted the much-loved Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival held on the grounds of Slater Mill, located at 67 Roosevelt Avenue in the heart of downtown Pawtucket on Sunday, August 30, 2009 12-5 PM. The Festival takes place during the popular and highly publicized Pawtucket Arts Festival.
The day was a huge success attracting over 3,000 attendees who enjoyed music, fine craft, food and demonstrations at the place where innovation and labor changed the course of history for America.
The Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival is an opportunity to celebrate the experiences, histories, music and art of the many cultures and communities that built and continue to build Rhode Island and the nation. From 1990 through 2001 the Rhode Island Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival became a focal point for those Rhode Islanders who were interested in sharing their stories, celebrating their heritage and embracing others. Bringing back this festival in 2008 was an opportunity to bring together people from diverse backgrounds, work environments and traditions and continues in 2009.
The Festival with it's "Made In RI" theme included great music, artisans & vendors, exhibits and cultural demonstrations, social action groups, fine craftspeople and area labor unions as well as activities for all ages were also represented.
Among the award-winning Rhode Island performers headlining the concert and dance stages are Joyce Katzberg (labor and topical song); Pendragon (Celtic music); Atwater Donnelly (traditional American music and dance); Lydia Perez and Yoruba2 (Afro-Caribbean music and dance); French Roast (music and dance from the Franco tradition); Ken Lyon (American folk & blues); The Fiddle and Dance Project (young musicians ensemble); Fraternidad Folklorica Boliviana (music and dance of Bolivia), Issa Coulibaly (song and drumming traditions of Mali, West Africa); The Yankee Yeoman; Bridget Fitzgerald ("Mill Girl Bridget" & songs of the Irish immigrant) and Marvelous Marvin (circus arts for children). The popular Simmons Farm Petting Zoo for children will return to share our farm to factory roots. Raku demonstrations will take place: buy a clay pot, glaze it and have it fired during the Festival.
Slater Mill hosted mini Mill tours from 10-5 pm.
Admission to this eventwas free.
Thank you to our very generous organizations and companies who are sponsors of the Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival.
Festival Underwriter ~ $10,000:
Working RI
Labor Leader ~ $1000-$5000:
Pawtucket Arts Festival
United Nurses & Allied Professionals
Mill Worker ~ $500:
Construction & General Laborers' Union Local 271
RI Federation of Teachers & Health Professionals
RI Labor History Society
Weaver ~ $100:
IUPAT District Council 11
Iron Workers Local 37
Providence Braid Company, Inc.
RI Council 94
United Service & Allied Workers of RI
To be a sponsor contact Chandler at chandler@slatermill.org.
To be considered as a vendor or musical group you may download this letter and application or for more information email Mary Lee Partington, Festival Coordinator, at festivals@slatermill.org.