39th Annual Heritage Festival & Craft Show

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

The 39^th Annual Heritage Festival and Craft Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 17-18 at Nifong Park, 3700 Ponderosa St. Organized by Columbia Parks and Recreation, this free festival features traditional and roots entertainment, reenactors, artisans and tradesmen dressed in 19th century attire demonstrating their "lost" trades and selling their wares, and a handmade craft show.

Those attending the Heritage Festival this year are encouraged to take advantage of free shuttles, as parking on-site is limited. Shuttle parking will be located at the nearby Gans Creek Recreation Area, 3360 E. Gans Road. Signs will be posted near the park entrance.

Features of this year's Heritage Festival include a cowboy camp, Lewis and Clark outpost and a mountain man camp. Families will be able to ride on a hayride around the park and try out traditional crafts and games in the "Fun For Young'uns" area.

Live entertainment will include a variety of genres, including German, Celtic, blues, Cajun, folk, western, swing and traditional storytellers. The Haskell Indian Nations Dancers will return to the Heritage Festival this year, as will folk musicians Dave Para and Cathy Barton, blues musician Lem Sheppard and the Kansas City Celtic Pipe and Drum Corps.

New entertainment in 2016 includes traditional Latin-Caribbean cumbia dance, taiko drummers and the World African Arts Dancers.

The Boone County Historical Society will participate in the Heritage Festival, by opening the Village at Boone Junction and the historic Maplewood Home to visitors. The Walters-Boone Museum will also be open and is admission-free. Hundreds of items are on display and featured exhibits include the history of one-room schools in Boone County and the history of the horse in Boone County. Blind Boone's 1891 custom-made grand piano and the national touring exhibit "We are the Music Makers" can be found in the Montminy Art Gallery.

For more information on the Heritage Festival, visit www.CoMo.gov (search Heritage Festival) or call Columbia Parks and Recreation at 573-874-7460opens phone dialer.

                                               

The Heritage Festival is coordinated by Columbia Parks and Recreation and sponsored by Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Development Program, KPLA 101.5, KFRU 1400, the Missouri Arts Council, Missouri Life magazine & Columbia Daily Tribune.