The logo of the Portage County Cultural Festival, “Portage County Meet Yourself,” reflects the intent of the organizers to showcase the cultures of Portage County and to equip area youngsters to function more effectively in the multi-cultural society into which they would soon move. The festival is an all day event that celebrates the richness of the many cultures in Portage County through the sharing of food, entertainment, exhibits, sales of arts and crafts, and hands-on activities. It provides an opportunity for mutual learning in a fun setting.

Description:
The Portage County Cultural Festival is a non-profit organization run by a Planning Committee consisting of 30+ community volunteers who meet year round, and involves many more volunteers who donated thousands of hours toward this effort. It features a total of 38 cultural groups offering 70+ food, arts and crafts, and exhibits booths, and has outstanding professional and semi-professional entertainment on 4 stages. Children enjoy hands-on learning activities throughout the day and people interested in the recent past are treated to Ethnic Arts demonstration showcasing the vanishing arts, like Polish paper cutting and quill baskets weaving. This is the largest cultural festival in Wisconsin which does not charge an admission fee; this is done to encourage and enable entire families to participate. The Festival is supported each year by generous in-kind and cash contributions from area businesses, service organizations, and concerned individuals. Contributions to this 501(c)(3) organization is fully tax deductible.

History:
The Portage County Cultural Festival (PCCF) made its debut in 1992 in the Pfiffner Park with all activities taking place in 3 giant tents. Weather considerations persuaded organizers to move the event into SPASH (Stevens Point Area Senior High) in its third year, where it has been held ever since, with attendance steadily growing and exceeding 13,000 this past year. The growing community ownership of this event has enabled the organizers to continue to invite quality entertainers and yet keep the PCCF a “free admission” event.

Contact people:

Carol Okray, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Liz Fulton, Executive Committee, (phone), (email) Cindy Piotrowski, (email)

Address:

P. O. Box 739 Stevens Point, WI 54481

Web Site: http://www.portagecountyculturalfestival.org

Last updated on January 20, 2012