Folklife Festival

In August, 1999 we went to the Folk Life Festival in San Antonio, Texas. We watched people doing different crafts that came from immigrants who settled in Texas. We also saw many dancers that represented cultural groups in Texas. After talking to the different artisans, musicians, and dancers we decided that a web page about our Texas Heritage would be very interesting.

Below are some pictures we took at the festival. The Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio, Texas sponsors the festival.

	Since many culture groups couldn't bring very much, they often made their own tools. Baskets were a big help for carrying food. Many immigrant groups knew the art of basket weaving.
	Belgian bowling is one of the most popular activities at the folk life festival. You roll a cylindrical disk into a small opening at the end of a long board.
	Quilting was a skill that was developed by many cultural groups. The women would gather and create a quilt together.
	Weaving chairs was done by men and women. Many tasks that immigrants did as part of their daily lives have become folk art today.
	Corn grinders were very useful tools. They scraped the kernels from the cob.
	Dancing was a unique part of every culture group. This depicts a form of Belgian dancing.
	Dancing dolls were a great form of entertainment for young children. The wooden man would dance if set upon a jiggling board.
	Music making was a big part of daily life. It was a very popular form of entertainment. The accordion was small and easy to take on a trip, which was very important.