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Date of Inception The Australian Folk Culture is celebrated annually in the form of National Folk Festival since the year 1967. The Festival This is perhaps a vista that comes in our dreams. Lights, music, lakhs of people and, above all, a vibrancy running across the Exhibition Park. Yes, you've guessed it right. It's the National Folk Festival of Australia being talked about. The grand fiesta actually celebrates the diversified folk traditions of the continent. Until 1991, the festival sojourned to different cities every year. But with its increasing magnitude, it was getting tougher for the states to systematize arrangements properly. Thus since 1992, the organizers decided to have a scheduled venue for the event and Canberra was fixed as the permanent site for the National Folk Festival of Australia. The gala event showcases the various forms of traditional music, dance and art of the continent. Though the National Folk Festival now has a permanent spot, but every year, one of the Australian states is featured in the celebration. The focus is laid on the art and cultural activities of that particular state and discounted tickets are made available for activities related to it. Concerts, street performances, workshops and music add color and life to this festival. As it's a national event, people from throughout Australia drop in here to plunge in the merry making. Venue The Canberra Exhibition Park dresses up in multihued lights and cacophony for the excited visitors for five days of the National Folk Festival. When is it Celebrated? The National Folk Festival is celebrated for 5 days over the Easter Long Weekend attracting visitors of all ages from around the world. Exclusive Feature As darkness falls, the Exhibition Park of Canberra gets ready to party. Every night, the festival has a majestic ball commencing with a Scottish Ball on the Friday night, Irish Ceili on Saturday and a Colonial Ball on the Sunday night. One of the fantastic characteristics of this folk festival is the numerous dance workshops and the workshops on making, playing and repairing musical instruments from around the world. People throng the festival ground to savor the spontaneous plays put up by the acting circles across the continent. Show Stealers The cynosure of the event is the 55-odd-crafts stall in the festival premises, which displays the traditional art of every corner of Australia. Uncountable food vendors selling cuisines of a wide array, two bars and a supermarket in the festival ground provide you with the opportunity of non-stop shopping till the entertainment satiates you fully. Visiting the National Folk Festival is worth only if you want to feel Australia's charm to its core. It's not only a festival but also the reflection of Australian culture before a global audience.
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