Seen here in this 1912 postcard...Berlin, New Hampshire became a melting pot of cultures.
Dick Huot speaks from northern NH, not far from this New England vacation spot, with the understated confidence of a man who knows he’s part of something bigger than himself, something you don’t need to exaggerate. Off the top of his head, from a small corner of a tiny state, he lists the wildest, most vibrant explosion of activities a rural traveler could reasonably expect to find.
He’s talking about an annual event in Berlin that has only been in its present form for three years: Northern Forest Heritage Park’s “Cultural Festival.” This year it’s slated for June 5. It’s meant to celebrate the seemingly endless mesh of cultures that settled northern New Hampshire over the centuries in a way that the newest generation will remember.
“We have a very good sampling,” says Huot, the park’s director.
The list of planned exotic activities is not short: The Maine Nordmenn will provide a “Viking invasion,” there will be magnetic fishing derbies, a strolling minstrel, rosemaling, and of course a huge selection of traditional ethnic foods you’ve likely never heard of.
Visitors will have a chance to match their (probably limited) skills at “log burling.” That’s the practice of trying to stay atop a rolling, partially submerged log longer than your opponent. Patrick Ross, the “North Country Fiddler” will perform on stage. He is a fiddling favorite of audiences within the region – and beyond. You’ll also hear northern New Hampshire’s primitive instrument expert, John Loper, demonstrating a variety of native musical devices. In addition the Maine Kanteles players will be on hand playing still more exotic instruments – Finnish devices that go back to the time of Christ.
The French Canadian “Festival du Bois” and the Norwegian “Syttende Mai” festivals merged to form the present Cultural Festival. This event has matured and deeply expanded its diversity. New this year will be an expected strong Native American presence, personified in part by Loper and by native craftsmen.
Huot expects to see the traditional foods of seven nations, and quite a bit of it.
“We’re preparing 700 dishes, so we’re hoping that’s what shows up,” he says.
There is no general admission charge.
David Ridley
The Balsams Blogging Team
To learn more about this event visit http://www.northernforestheritage.org/images/CFPoster.pdf
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By Interesting Sights Around Berlin, New Hampshire | NH Vacation on May 26, 2010 at 7:57 am
[...] But hearing is not seeing! Drop by Berlin when you get a chance; a good day might be June 5th, when the park hosts its annual Cultural Festival. [...]