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Tradition - The Prime Factor in Ethnic Fair

Tradition - The Prime Factor in Ethnic Fair image
Parent Issue
Day
1
Month
September
Year
1974
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
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News Photo By Jock Si abbs

Christine Idzikowski And Ann Cimoszko Display Polish Items For Fair

Tradition — The Prime

Factor In Ethnic Fair

By Jody Vellucci

(News Stott Reporter)

Tradition. A feeling that keeps countries going. An important component in the identity of ethnic groups.

On Sept. 6 and 7, there will be 21 ethnic groups displaying some of their traditions at the second annual Ann Arbor Ethnic Fair. The fair itself, well-received last year, promises also to become a tradition.

Visitors to the fair will have their choice of Polish golabki (stuffed cabbage), Mexican-American burritos, French bread and all kinds of other ethnic dishes.

Artifacts and traditional items will be on display and for sale. The German and Polish booths will again have their sidewalk beer gardens.

This year’s fair is double the size of last year’s. Although the number of groups participating has increased by two, the size increase is due to larger booths covering a wider area.

The fair will be located on Main between William and Washington and along Liberty from Fourth Ave, to Ashley from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Over 20,000 persons visited the fair last year. The fair’s sponsors are hoping to increase that number this year.

The Ethnic Fair is sponsored by the Ann Arbor Multi-Ethnic Alliance in cooperation with the Downtown Business and Development Association and the City of Ann Arbor.

The major purpose of the fair is to promote the multi-ethnic quality of the

greater Ann Arbor area.

“The primary reason the fair was organized was to raise people's consciousness of ethnicity,” said Multi-Ethnic Alliance Chairman Bruce Warshal. "We (the different ethnic groups) live in Ann Arbor but we do our own thing. This is a celebration of the idea that people can be different and enjoy their differences. Yet, we are the same because we live in this area and we are working together. ”

“Everyone wants the fair to be a success, of course,” Warshal said. "The money the different groups raise goes to non-profit ethnic organizations of their choice.”

Arrangements for the fair began about four months ago. Since then, the meetings have gone from twice a month to every week. Meetings have also been held with the various city agencies involved in the fair — streets, parks, traffic, among others.

According to Kitty Wallace, chairwoman of the entertainment committee, there will be a full schedule of entertainment.

“This year we are going to even have entertainment Saturday afternoon. Last year it was just Friday and Saturday nights. We are encouraging people to come down to the fair and have dinner and be entertained.”

The entertainment will include “a group direct from Ireland” with traditional Irish music. There also will be Irish step dancers and jig dancers.

An unusual feature will be French folk dancing and singing by Alliance Francaise, a local French club. There will also be Chinese dancing and authentic Polish and Italian music. The Black Americans will feature singers and drama.

If you like to eat, the fair is the place for you. The Polish contingent has 35 cases of Polish beer, and a variety of wines, including honey wine for which the Poles are famous. Besides French bread, the French booth will serve pate de foie gras. There will also be a display of dolls dressed in different French regional costumes and a display of old maps of the Great Lakes.

If Irish food is your favorite, you’ll be able to sample Irish stew, ham and cabbage, soda bread or fruit bread, Irish coffee and authentic Irish whiskey.

Meat-filled dumplings and pastries will be on the menu at the Ukranian booth, and an Easter-egg decoration demonstration is on the agenda.

Bratwurst, sauerkraut and apple strudel as well as German beer will be the fare at the German booth. Italian sausage and spumoni ice cream along with imported wines and beer will be available at the Italian booth.

The Polish booth will serve kielbasa, poppy seed cake, honey cake, bapkas (raisin cake), chrusciki, cherry cake and apricot cake.

If you have an urge to buy, you can choose from a wide variety ethnic cookbooks, French coffee mills, Ukranian embroidery, ceramics and inlaid wood, Indian ski boots, Mexican American ponchos and wall hangings and many more arts and crafts.