The 35th Annual International FolkFest officially began Monday (6/12/2017) night with a Welcome Party at the Grove at Williamson Place.

Dance troupes from Canada, Lithuania and Mexico travel to various locations in the mid-state to share their culture, music and dance. They are hosted by our own Cripple Creek Cloggers, who are celebrating a major milestone--their 50th anniversary.

Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess presented gifts to each international group.

The majority of those in the room were challenged with verbal communications among each other, but they shared a smile, handshake along with music and dance.

Mayor Burgess noted . . .

(Time: 25-seconds)

Later WGNS' Bart Walker spoke with the founder Steve Cates . . .

(Time: 2-minutes and 23-seconds)

NOTE: Steve Cates and David Lee will be on WGNS' Action Line Tuesday morning (6/13/2017) from 8:10-8:35AM to tell more about the 35th International FolkFest.