Folk Festival kickoff meeting Jan. 24

By Kevin Adler

Although it’s the middle of winter, the Takoma Park Folk Festival is not in hibernation. The Festival’s leadership team will be holding a kickoff meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 24, and all members of the community are invited.

After missing last year for the first time since its creation in 1978, the Festival’s organizers are preparing a full-scale event and considering ways to add new activities. The Festival is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2017, at Takoma Park Middle School.

“We’ve got an energetic group of new volunteers,” said Sarah Lanning, Festival co-chair and a new festival committee member herself. “But there’s always more to do. This meeting will be a great time to share ideas and to tell us how you want to help.”

Applications for performers, crafters, community tables, food vendors and beneficiary groups will be made available early in the year. Discussions have been underway about how the Festival can stay true to its traditions, while also reach out to new audiences, too, said Rob Hinkal, the Festival’s program chair.

As part of its outreach, the Festival will host fundraisers or community events in the spring and summer. “We’re going to be busy,” said Walter Mulbry, committee member.

For information about the exact time and location of the meeting on Jan. 24, check out the Festival’s website at www. tpff.org or its Facebook page.

This article appeared in the January 2017 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.