Oct 11, 2008, Boalsburg Multicultural Columbus Festival:

200 Years of Cultural Heritage

To celebrate Christopher Columbus and all the cultures that have shaped America and particularly historic Boalsburg, which will be celebrating its 200th birthday, the Boalsburg 200th Committee  will host a Multicultural Festival on October 11, 2008, from Noon to 4 PM.

Photo: Lifting spirits at the Boalsburg Festival was

the Essence of Praise Choir under the direction of Duane Bullock.

This is because in Boalsburg descendants of Christopher Columbus and even the Admiral’s desk of the famed explorer provide a unique living connection with Columbus, who first arrived in the New World on October 12, 1492, to begin the American experiment that continues today.

Food, music, dance, food and crafts of many cultures will be featured from Noon to 4 PM on Saturday, October 11, in the festive Boalsburg village square beautifully decked out in the flags of many nations. Then at 7:30 PM community members will gather for the Boalsburg Columbus Ball at the Boal Mansion Museum with contra-dancing, champagne and fine food.

“The weekend is about cultural harmony through cultural awareness,” says Christopher Lee, a Boal descendant of Christopher Columbus and current director and resident of the Boal Mansion. Lee quotes former Penn State President Bryce Jordan who once spoke in Boalsburg, saying “Diversity in America is not a threat. It is a resource.”

Photo below: Youngsters cut out paper dolls of their heritage from the Boalsburg-Panorama Elementary Schools PTA while the Collins Family plays Irish music in the background at the festival.

The Noon to 4 PM festival is sponsored by the Boalsburg Village Conservancy. It takes place in the village on Saturday, October 11, and will feature music and crafts of many cultures. and the Boalsburg Elementary School PTA will provide heritage games for children.

There will be continual free wagon rides with a guide through historic Boalsburg. Stops include the village square (Church and Main Streets), the Boalsburg Heritage Museum (East Main Street, open 1-4 PM) and the Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum (300 Old Boalsburg Road) where guided tours of the famous Columbus Chapel and the remarkably intact 1789 Boal Mansion will be offered (open Noon to 5 PM). The Boals, a leading Pennsylvania family, have lived at the Boal Mansion for 219 years and the furnishing, tools and weapons of nine generations are still on display at the Boal Mansion Museum, including remarkable European art and artifacts as well.

The village festival is free. For more information on Boalsburg and their Columbus activities, or for ethnic groups wishing to join in presenting the food, music or crafts at the festival, contact the Boal Mansion Museum at 814-466-6210 or office@boalmuseum.com or PO Box 116sburg PA 16827.

Note: The following is the 2007 schedule.

The 2008 schedule will be posted when available.

Performance Schedule for 2007 in the Boalsburg Village Square:

Noon: Welcome to Boalsburg by its founder, the 1789 pioneer David Boal (Alan Boal, his descendant, in period dress).

12:05-12:30 Cup o’ Joe: traditional American music

12:45-1:15 Juniata: gospel, bluegrass and old time songs

1:15-1:20: An address from the 1789 pioneer David Boal, founder of Boalsburg.

1:20-1:30 Chuck Greb, Bote Fote Drumworks: West African drumming

1:30-1:45 Tir na Nog School of Irish Dancing, Sue Garner

1:45-2:15 Cup o’ Joe traditional American music

2:15-2:30: An address from Christopher Columbus (Bruce Young, in period dress), the man who opened the door from the Old World to the New World and started this thing we call America

2:30-3:15 Juniata: gospel, bluegrass and old time songs

3:15-3:30 Tir na Nog School of Irish Dancing, Sue Garner

3:30-3:50 Barafo Percussion Ensemble: West African style drum and dance

3:50-4:00 Closing address from the 1789 pioneer David Boal

The Barafo Drum and Dance Company:  West African drumming and dancing

 

Cup o' Joe: American music of Scottish-Irish origin

 

Tir na Nog: Irish dancing:

The name of the school is Tir na Nog (pronounced tier - na - nog (long 'o' sound)).  It is Gaelic for 'Land of the Youth'.  The dancers will be performing a 3 hand reel - consisting of figures or patterns and individual steps.  They will also be performing a hard shoe jig. --Sue Garner.