The History of Folkmoot USA

The idea for Folkmoot began in 1983 when Dr. Clinton Border, a Waynesville surgeon, accompanied a local square dance team to a folk festival in Sidmouth, England. Dr. Border became convinced that Western North Carolina, which was already steeped in tradition and dedicated to the preservation of its own heritage, was the perfect location for an international folk festival in the United States. Dr. Border believed something invaluable occurs when cultures rich in tradition come together to share their lives.

The first festival was held in 1984. In 2003, The North Carolina General Assembly declared The North Carolina International Folk Festival to be the state's official international festival. The Southeast Tourism Society has named Folkmoot USA one of its top twenty events for 20 years. Folkmoot USA produces one of the largest and longest running dance festivals in the world and it continues to draw thousands of visitors to Haywood County from around the United States and from around the world annually during the last week of July.

In addition to its festival programming, Folkmoot USA has grown to include year-round programming at its headquarters in the former Hazelwood Elementary School. This Folkmoot Friendship Center is a diverse, inclusive community-based arts organization that hosts 10 artist and community organization studio spaces. Folkmoot offers a bi-annual series of Life Long Learning Classes, an artist-led workshop series, and 12 annual performances produced in our 265-seat Queen Auditorium.