Weekend Performances
Traditional Demonstrators
Traditional Crafts are practiced or sustained in a family or community and serve a purpose within that family or community. Unlike "art for art's sake" or craft that is learned through formal instruction, traditional craft is pursued for the sake of one's occupation or faith, by social custom, or in the conduct of daily life. Michael Berg learned to make working decoys, intended to float on water and to lure real ducks into the hunter's lair. All of the traditional craftsmen listed below are demonstrating their craft's materials and techniques during the Florida Folk Festival. All learned their skills from their families or communities and continue the tradition as a way of honoring their heritage. Exploring their personal stories is a great way to learn more about the history and culture of Florida. Visit them throughout the Festival grounds or in the Traditional Crafts Demonstration Tent at the top of the hill at the Amphitheater Stage.
The crafters listed below are a sampling of previous festival demonstrators. A complete list of current year participants is posted prior to the festival.
Michael Berg makes hand-carved working duck decoys
Margaret Horvath is a master at making Hungarian embroidery and needlework and an expert on regional designs and history. Margaret will be demonstrating in the Folklife Area.
Lita Swindle demonstrates hand weaving and spinning
Nancy Traver demonstrate hand knitting, lace tatting and hand woven items
Willie the Losen, located on the Museum lawn demonstrates split rail fence making, shingle making, hewing logs to construct a log cabin and palm frond weaving for making baskets and other items.
At the Luthiers Exhibit you'll meet some of the state's makers of handcrafted stringed instruments who use both raw materials and commercially available supplies to construct one-of-a-kind guitars, banjos, dulcimers and other musical instruments.
John Catches makes acoustic guitars, open-back banjos, gourd banjos and hammer dulcimers.
Ken Miller makes high quality, hand-crafted musical instruments - guitar, mandolin, ukele, Hawaiian guitars.
Chuck Willer makes handcrafted guitars, mandolins and other mandolin family instruments of solid wood construction and bindings with mother of pearl and abalone inlays.
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