Faces Etnofestival

Faces Etnofestival

Weekend in late July or early August

Faces is a multicultural arts festival held annually in Billnäs, Finland, a town in the southern part of the country about 40 miles from Helsinki. Each summer more than 12,000 visitors gatherfor three days celebrating world cultures with performances in music, dance, theater, and poetry. Ten different stages showcase a range of acts from musical theater and improvisational comedy to reggae, punk, and country. Musicians, actors, clowns, writers, and other participants come from many countries around the world, including Argentina, Sweden, South Africa, Australia, and Russia; Finnish folk and popular music is also highlighted. In addition, workshops, exhibits, and vendors promote fine art, music, crafts, and world cuisine. Yoga, graffiti art, fire dancing, Scandinavian myths, and herbal remedies, are among the many unusual areas of interest included in the program. Activities in the Small Faces area are designed especially for children, including tribal drumming workshops and felting lessons.
The festival, which is sponsored by the humanitarian aid group Etnokult, has been held each year since 1998 as a means of promoting global diversity, equality, and understanding. A symposium held on the festival Saturday challenges those in attendance to reflect on developments in multiculturalism and globalization. The festival's name derives from the idea that coming together in a celebration of diversity helps to give a "face" to otherwise unfamiliar ethnicities and cultures. On the final day of the festival a benefit Peace Concert is held, with proceeds contributing to an international aid project such as hospital construction in a developing nation. The festival operates two campgrounds near the event site for those who wish to stay overnight, with one offering parking for recreational vehicles.

CONTACTS:
Faces Etnofestival
Bruksvägen 8
Billnäs Finland
www.faces.fi