Pittsburgh Folk Festival

The Pittsburgh Folk Festival is a large multicultural celebration of diverse international ethnic heritages, which has been held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania since 1956. The festival's early mission statement was described in May 1959, as follows, by The Zajednicar, the official newspaper of the Croatian Federal Union of America: "Being under the auspices of the Duquesne University, the Festival is a non-profit venture dedicated to a closer relationship of the present day citizenry and a better appreciation of their contribution to Pittsburgh growth, especially on the occasion of the bi-centennial year." Initially sponsored by Duquesne University, this festival has been held annually since 1956. Various cultures have been represented, since that time through music, folk dance, and performances on the main stage while different vendors sell traditional food as well as arts and crafts during the festival. In 1956, the first festival was held at the Syria Mosque, beginning at 5 p.m. each day on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10. Food booths were located on the mosque's ground floor with multicultural exhibits of history, crafts and products displayed in the mosque's upstairs lobby. On Saturday, the two-hour program, which began at 8 p.m., featured dances, folk singers and storytellers from Scottish, Hungarian, Bulgarian, American, Croatian, Russian, Slovak, Greek, ad German traditions while the Sunday program featured Italian, Lithuanian, Lebanese, Carpatho-Russian, Polish, Irish, Israeli, Chinese, and Ukrainian cultural performances. The theme of the third annual festival, which was also held at the Syria Mosque, was "Unity in Diversity: Democracy and Beauty; Fun and Friendliness!" It was held from Friday, May 9 through Sunday, May 11, 1958. Held again at the Syria Mosque in 1959, the fourth annual event began at 5 p.m. each night from Friday May 15 through Sunday, May 17.