Conner Prairie’s Indiana Festival June 4, 2010

Highlights include jazz great Dr. David Baker, children’s characters Maya & Miguel and German food and music
FISHERS, Ind. (May 20, 2010) – Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, Indiana’s only Smithsonian Affiliate, will celebrate Indiana’s cultures, roots and traditions through music, storytelling and food at this year’s Indiana Festival, June 5 & 6, 2010.
Indiana Festival brings the community together to demonstrate pride in where we come from, who we are and where we live. This year’s festival will feature German and Mexican cultures, among others, with music, dance, storytelling, food and crafts focusing on Indiana’s heritage.
Guests can sample ethnic food from a wide variety of cultures, including German, Mexican, Greek, Asian and Caribbean fare and can participate in a cultural scavenger hunt and enter to win prizes or cheer on an 1886 baseball game. Guests may also visit 1836 Prairietown residents to sample 19th-century German food, hear German folklore, play games with German roots and listen to residents play the fiddle and dulcimer.
New this year, festival activities will include a beer and wine tent, the debut of the Indiana Humanities Council Food for Thought traveling exhibit, opportunities to trace genealogy and meet world-renowned artistic and musical director of the acclaimed Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Dr. David Baker. Baker will hold a jazz clinic entitled “Jazz Greats of Indianapolis” Sat., June 5 at 1:15 p.m. He will discuss and share recordings by some of the great jazz musicians who have come from Indianapolis and then take questions from guests. An autograph session with Dr. Baker will be available for guests between 2-3 p.m. at the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings tent.
*Special Events Sat., June 5 featuring Indiana’s German culture:
Alpentraum: The largest known alphorn ensemble in North American will perform using alphorn instruments to create music.
Dan Lemonnier: Nationally known storyteller who has performed at the Smithsonian Institution, the 53rd Presidential Inaugural and hundreds of schools, library, art centers and churches throughout the Midwest, will be sharing German folk tales with guests.
die Fledermäuschen Tanzegruppe: This Indianapolis-based folk dance group, formed by the German-American Klub, will perform original folk dances from Germany and Austria in authentic Bavarian dress of the 19th century in southern Germany.
Meister Winds: An authentic German band specializing in Bavarian style traditional polkas, marches, waltzes and novelty dances.
Original Alpine Express: Authentic German folk music band will perform and host a yodeling contest for guests.
Scherenschnitte: German paper cutting.
*Special Events Sun., June 6 featuring Indiana’s Mexican culture:
Mariachi band: Mariachi Sol Jalisciense
Anderson Ballet Folklorico: This youthful group of dancers uses traditional music and colorful costumes to share the beauty of Mexican culture. They will perform traditional Mexican folklore dances from various regions of Mexico.
Into Salsa: Will showcase a variety of Latin dances for guests.
Chocolate and Tortilla making storytelling: by Juana Watson.
Flower Making: tissue paper flowers.
Papel Picado: Mexican folk art of paper cutting into elaborate designs.
Other cultural entertainment will includes the R&B/funk soul six-piece band Downstroke, the gospel choir from Eastern Star Church, the African percussion Griot Drum ensemble, Irish Airs, Native-American flute ensemble Shilombish and the Indiana Caledonia Pipe Band.
Guests can meet Maya and Miguel Santos from the PBS television show Maya and Miguel from 12 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 6. Enter for a chance to win a VIP 1859 Balloon Voyage with Maya and Miguel at connerprairie.org.
Conner Prairie is offering buy-one-get-one free admission to the festival, print a coupon at connerprairie.org. Indiana Festival is $13 for adults, $12 for seniors 65+, $9 for youth (ages two -12) and free for members and youth under two.
To view last year’s Indiana Festival video, or for additional information, please follow this link or visit connerprairie.org. The Smithsonian elements of Indiana Festival are made possible through the Smithsonian Affiliations program.