Slater Mill presents its annual Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival 2010 with a day of folk music and dance, fine crafts and artisans, as well as food and fun for children sponsored by Working RI and the Pawtucket Arts Festival. The Festival showcases this summer season’s gifted performers, artists, and craftspeople on the grounds of Slater Mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on Sunday, August 29, from 12:00-5:00 P.M.
The Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival honors Rhode Island’s labor traditions and the legacy of industry and innovation at Slater Mill, the 1790 cotton spinning mill and National Historic Landmark credited as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America.
The “Made in Rhode Island” theme of Slater Mill’s Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival this year focuses on In Unison, a motto that helps us share the story of past and present Rhode Islanders who come to New England from distant places, who work hard to build new lives and whose music, song, dance, and craft traditions bring audiences together, from one generation to the next, at Slater Mill.
Among the award-winning Rhode Island performers headlining the concert and dance stages are Joyce Katzberg (labor and topical song); Pendragon (Celtic music and dance); French Roast (music from the Franco tradition); Fraternidad Folklorica Boliviana (music and dance of Bolivia); Sidy Maiga (song and drumming of West Africa); Marvelous Marvin (circus arts for children); Yankee Yeoman (character reenactment of the New England farmer and tradesman); Kung Fu Club of Rhode Island (Chinese Lion Dance); The Gnomes (World Music); Mohammed Antesar (Middle Eastern Lute music); The Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island (New England fiddle traditions); The Whatnots (Rachel Panitch and contra dance music.) The popular Simmons Farm Petting Zoo for children will celebrate farm and factory roots in Rhode Island.
In addition to folk music and dance, the Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival presents The Slater Mill Community Guild Studios. Headquartered in the Mill’s Jenck’s Education Center, the Guild Studios represent major Rhode Island and New England artisan and craft guilds who demonstrate and display the work of leading quilters, weavers, spinners, and knitters. Chair caning, rug hooking and crochet are also among the Guild Studio artist areas of expertise. Centrally located on the Festival lawn, the Guilds of Slater Mill look forward to meeting audience and welcoming those who may be interested in learning new skills or advancing their art and craft during the Fall Community Guilds’ season at Slater Mill.
Guest artist vendors fill the festival tents with fine craft for sale, and labor and community organizations share information about their work on behalf of Rhode Islanders. A “Company Picnic” food theme brings the shining chrome of lunch trucks, ice cream carts, ethnic food delights, and sweet treats loved by children of all ages.
The 2010 Labor and Ethnic Heritage Festival is a free event (fee applies for tours of the Museum) and is held rain or shine on the grounds of Slater Mill Museum, 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860. The Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival is sponsored by Working RI and the Pawtucket Arts Festival. For more information visit www.slatermill.org; email festivals@slatermill.org; or call 401-725-8638.
Admission to festival is free.
Mini tours of the Museum from 12-4 pm; admission is rolled back to last year's prices!...$10 adults; $9 Seniors; $8 kids 6-12; under 6 admitted free.
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Thank you to the very generous organizations and
companies who sponsor the Labor & Ethnic
Heritage Festival each year.
To be a sponsor contact Chandler at chandler@slatermill.org.
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To be considered as a vendor or musical group you may email Mary Lee Partington, Festival Coordinator, at festivals@slatermill.org.
Sponsored by: