by Isabella Ruiz

The dreadful early mornings, the abundance of homework and falling back into the routine of college life can be very difficult for many people. However, a positive side to going back to school is being able to see old friends and make new ones, as well as making new memories. A fun activity for people of all interests is the upcoming NC Folk Festival that begins on Friday, September 9, and ends on Sunday, September 11.

This free annual event includes an abundance of food trucks that each have their own authentic cuisine, local small business vendors and a variety of folk artists and musicians who have all come to perform in downtown Greensboro. The festival will have five stages with different acts running concurrently, starting in the afternoon and lasting until 9 p.m.

Last year, I had the opportunity to attend the NC Folk Festival and was welcomed with a jazz band playing a cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” After their unique cover of an iconic song, the band played a song of their own and asked many people in the audience individually to create their own dance. After each dance, there was a round of applause.

The sense of community that a group of strangers were able to form through music was something that shocked and overwhelmed me with a sense of hope. As I approached the next stage, I was welcomed by a high school marching band that played for hours on end while maintaining high spirits, synchronized choreography and well-played music.

The many different styles of music featured at the festival has a purpose. The NC Folk Festival’s mission, as stated on their website, is to “honor, celebrate and share the meaningful ways in which communities express their creativity and cultural traditions through music, dance, food, crafts and other folk arts to enhance appreciation of diverse traditions and contribute to community vibrancy and inclusivity.”

The vast array of music, the diversity of food and the abundance of local vendors may vary from each other; however, this also allows people with all kinds of interests to come together and enjoy a special event.

This year, some of the bands that will be playing are George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, the NC A&T Drumline, the Secret Agency and the Jazz Fusion Jam. Additionally, some of the food vendors include Ghassan’s Mobile Mediterranean Eats, Taqueria El Azteca Taco Truck and Jamaica Coast Catering. For those with a sweet tooth, there will also be food trucks that serve desserts, such as Gnam Gnam Gelato, Dusty Donuts and Kona Ice of Greensboro. Lastly, some of the small business marketplace vendors that will be at the NC Folk Festival include Piedmont Clay Works, NC Bee Exchange and Speedwell Art and Jewelry LLC.

Adjusting to school again after four months off can be difficult and stressful at first. However, having an event such as the NC Folk Festival near the beginning of the school year can be a great way to bring new and old friends together to create a sense of community that includes accepting and celebrating diversity, as it should be.

Going to the NC Folk Festival? Please share your photos with us at thegccollegian@ gmail.com or on Instagram @ thegccollegian!