Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County Prepares for the 48th Annual International Folk Festival
Fayetteville, N.C. – The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County proudly presents the 48th Annual International Folk Festival, set to take place September 25th through 26th in Downtown Fayetteville. This community favorite festival promises to be another spectacular celebration of cultural diversity and artistic expression.
On Friday, September 25, the International Folk Festival will begin with an evening celebration on Hay Street themed Fiesta en la Calle. The Arts Council is proud to partner with Raleigh-based nonprofit El Centro Hispano to fill downtown with live cultural music, dance and more. Inside the Arts Council, guests can also participate in a free mail art workshop inspired by the current exhibition, Celebration of Sapphire: Mail Art from Around the World.
The Parade of Nations kicks off the festival on Saturday, September 26th at 10AM with over 25 nations represented and over 1,000 marchers in the parade procession. Upon the parade’s conclusion, attendees can transition to Festival Park where over two dozen food vendors will be serving authentic food from their country with many using “grandma’s” recipe. This year the public can expect cuisines from Guyana, the Philippines, India, and Puerto Rico, to name a few. Visitors wanting to get ahead of holiday shopping will have a variety of unique handmade goods to choose from in the festival Arts Market.
Visitors will be greeted with an array of activities and entertainment throughout the day. Our children’s area will feature a giant bounce house, visual art activities, as well as an Instrument Petting Zoo presented by Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Scheduled performances for this year include the Philippine American Club of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Latin Dance, Azerbaijan Friendship Organization, and more.
The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is grateful for the generous support of our sponsors, including T-Fiber, CBS17, Cumulus Media, Cape Fear Valley Heath, TRP Sumner, United Bank, Dogwood State Bank, NC Arts Council, City of Fayetteville, and Cumberland County.
48th Annual International Folk Festival Details:
Dates: September 25-26, 2026
Times: Friday: 6-9 PM | Saturday: 10AM - 7PM
Location: Downtown Fayetteville, NC | Festival Park
Admission: Free
For more information on the International Folk Festival, visit www.TheArtsCouncil.com/iff.
Click here for the festival media kit.
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