Fair Features Eating, Sipping, Looking

Ann Arbor, Michigan, Saturday, September 15,1973

China Among Countries Represented At Fair

Fair Goers Relax In German Beer Garden

Fair Features Eating, Sipping, Looking

By Lee Wilkins

(News Staff Reporter)

Regardless of personal ethnic origin, Ann Arbor residents by the hundreds enjoyed an exposure to many national cultures Friday night at the city's first Ethnic Fair.

And while the prices for most things, except food, were a bit out of reach of the generally young crowd attending the gathering, looking was for free and a great many enjoyed it.

The first booth along Main Street, sponsored by Temple Beth Emeth, was closed Friday night due to celebration of the Sabbath. A cheerful sign, however.wished visitors “Shalom" (peace) and the tent will be open during the remainder of the event.

At the Arab World tent, visitors could have their fortunes told and coffee grounds read for a small fee, and among the items on sale and display was an ornamental silver drum, called a Durbaki, which makes a sound similar to bongos.

Snatches of foreign languages could be heard at many of the stalls and visitors to the Greek area were urged to order their drinks in that language.

The Russian-American booth featured good ole home-made dumplings, listed as Varenik on the menu.

Those who weren’t so interested in eating were invited to view several dolls dressed in the style of the czars and the Russian peasants before the revolution.

One of the most popular booths was that of China which attracted many young visitors. On display were various color photographs of mainland China and Taiwan. A stamp exhibit was also on display as was a board depicting the lifestyle of women in the People's Republic of China.

Those who were interested could purchase a set of color prints of various scenes of mainland life for a few cents and essays and books by Mao were on display and for sale.

Entertainment by many nationalities was provided on the wooden stage in the middle of the fair grounds during the evening and a program of chants and songs sung by American Indians attracted a large crowd.

The six performers, to the accompaniment of drums, sang various Indian chants and songs in their native Indian tongues. Among those presented was a series of songs celebrating the return home of a troup of Indians who had fought in Europe during World War I. While 50 persons had fought overseas, 49 had returned and the narrator explained the songs commemorated the death of the one Indian who had not come home.

The Alliance Francaise tent included a children’s book exhibit and some fur-lined suede boots that looked oh so inviting in the crisp fall air.

The Polish American Congress treated visitors to a taste of Polish history through displays of paintings and other exhibits while those of Irish descent could indulge in a little blarney brew including Irish coffee, Irish whiskey, Emerald dry wine and Irish mist.

The representatives from India exhibited various kinds of jewelry, including some intricately carved pieces of ivory, and life-like stuffed animals made from real animal skins.

For those Ann Arbor residents who didn't have a chance to attend Friday, presentations this evening will include:
7 — Latvian singers, 7:20 — Russian dance and a soloist, 7:45 — Polish dance group, 8:15 — Greek dance group, 8:35 — Arab belly dance, 8:55 — Ukranian dance group. 9:30 — Jewish singers, and at 10 — German dance group.

Other booths which may be visited at the fair include the Ukraine, Black American, Chicano and Bulgarian booth where visitors can relax, sip a beer and enjoy the lively costumes.