International Heritage Festival Colorado Folk Arts Council Lakewood Colorado
International Heritage Festival

About Us 
Colorado Folk Arts Council

COLORADO FOLK ARTS COUNCIL

History

The CFAC was founded in 1969 to work with cultural organizations throughout Colorado. It is incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization registered in Colorado. Our projects include the Cultural Concerts on Colfax in Aurora, School programs in Arapahoe, Denver and Jefferson Counties, Summer park concerts in Wheat Ridge.

https://coloradofolkartscouncil.yolasite.com/

INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE FESTIVAL

History

The International Heritage Festival is the oldest multicultural festival in Colorado. First presented in 1976 to celebrate Colorado's Centennial and continued almost every year since.Come join us to celebrate your ancestry and glimpse a little of the world's culture.

GERMANFEST

History

The International Heritage Festival - Oktoberfest is our celebration of Munich's Oktoberfest. The evenings will be filled with German music, beer and gemütlichkeit.

2024 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Renee Fajardo. Jtoh2016@gmail.com 


Lakewood, Co. 

Colorado Folk Arts Council ( CFAC)
International Heritage Festival Comes to Lakewood


The CFAC is celebrating 48 years of honoring folk dancing in Colorado with their annual International Heritage Festival Sat. Sept. 7th, 2024 at 40 West Arts Dist,6501 W Colfax Ave., Lakewood, CO 80214 from 12 Noon till 6 pm. Enjoy music, crafts, food, dance and so muchmore.


CFAC president Ron Gehuaf stated “The Cultural folk dance movement developed inthe immigrant communities of the U.S. during the first half of the 20th century as a way forimmigrant communities to maintain a cultural tie to their native communities. While traditional dances such as polkas, branles, and others had been done internationally for hundreds of years, the creation of international folk dance here is attributed to Vyts Beliajus, a Lithuanian - American who had studied, taught, and performed dances from various ethnic traditions since the1930s.”


Gehuaf added “We finally found a home to celebrate Colorado’s rich dance legacy, where ourpartners are also housed. The 40 West Arts District is home to Fiesta Colorado, CHAC, AztecaHuitzilopochtli and so many artists, it was only logical for us to relocate here.”CFAC is Colorado’s oldest multi-cultural arts non-profit. It was founded by iconic internationalfolk dancer, instructor, and choreographer Vytautas Finadar "Vyts" Beliajus and members of many of the cultural organizations in Colorado  in 1968 to promote and preserve all forms of the Folk Arts.

 

The festival features dance groups representing a wide range of cultures from Mexico,  India, Germany, Lithuania Scandinavia, Africa and Native America and many others.  “We have hip-hop for the younger generations and new vendors from Venezuela.” Said Gehuaf. “It is a festival for everyone. The CFAC strives to embrace the incredible diversity of our state and promote all the cultural heritages of our area.”   
Free and open to the public-Family Friendly 


For more information/complete schedule of events visit: internationalheritagefestival.org


Supporters include Jeff-Co SCFD, Chicano Humanities Arts Council, MSU Denver Chicana/oStudies Journey Through Our Heritage, Community First Foundation & Community ACTSFund, City of Wheat Ridge and the 40 West Arts District.
Links to

Past ArticalS Links

https://www.milehighonthecheap.com/international-heritage-festival/

https://www.9news.com/article/entertainment/events/9-things-to-do/9-things-colorado-weekend/73-7697c07f-9315-4aef-8549-6ce5f3aa7cba