Strangers Becoming Friends

Strangers Becoming Friends is a video snapshot of the annual International Friendship Festival in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Edited by Deb Wallwork and recorded by Media Mike Hazard, it's a video about a global village. The next festival is June 20-21, 2008. For more, visit http://www.thecie.org/

Pelican Rapids 10th Annual International Friendship Festival

Many Cultures, One Community; Strangers becoming Friends. June 22-23, 2007, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Sponsored by the Pelican Rapids Multi-Cultural Committee and the Pelican Rapids Chamber of Commerce. Taste, listen to and meet the world...without leaving town.


Many Cultures, One Community; Strangers becoming Friends June 22-23, 2007

IFF10 Logo designer is Nathen Jensen, 2007 graduate of Pelican Rapids High School


Tuesday, June 19, 2007
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Izudin Becic, Bosnian Woodcarver, speaks about and demonstrates his craft. Pelican Rapids Public Library

Thursday, June 21, 2007
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Publication party for the book The Faces of Change by local author Joan Jarvis Ellison and local photographer Mel Zierke. Some of the locals profiled in this book will be on hand to speak and/or autograph books. Pelican Rapids Public Library

Friday, June 22, 2007
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Faces of Change exhibit - Hand Carved Bosnian furniture exhibit Pelican Rapids Public Library

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Good Neighbor picnic (free hot dogs, beverage) - Good Samaritan Center

1:00 p.m. - Naturalization Ceremony - The Honorable Magistrate Mary Kay Klein presiding - E.L. Peterson Park (PRHS Fine Arts Auditorium in case of rain)

1:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Crafts from around the world - Pelican Rapids Public Library

2:00 p.m. - Visit with a Real Viking - Dennis Rusinko of Viking Age Club & Society- Sons of Norway at Senior Citizens Center (free refreshments)

3:00 - 5:00 p.m. - 5th Anniversary Party - Riverfront Manor ( free ice cream cones served by West Otter Tail County Dairy Princess, tours, door prize)

6:30 p.m. - Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Pelican Rapids (Tour Guide Marguerite Andrews and Chris Schuelke, OTCHS). Start at Scoops, end at Scoops for free ice cream cones after the Tour.

7:00 -10:00 p.m. - A Taste of Flamenco- Michael Hauser Trio in The Loft at Lida Greens, 22950 State Hwy 108. No cover charge.

Saturday, June 23, 2007
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest (Prizes awarded) Broadway Downtown Sidewalk musicians welcome.

10:00 a.m. - Teepee raising - Bob Shimek, White Earth, also featuring Drum and Dance Group from White Earth E.L. Peterson Park

10:00 a.m. - Viking Age Club & Society- Sons of Norway Viking encampment on the East Bank of Pelican River in Sherin Park

11:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Ethnic (American, Bosnian, German, Mexican, Scandinavian, Somali, Vietnamese) Food Booths - E.L. Peterson Park

12:00 noon - Flag raising (Speaker Rev. Herb Chilstrom, Music by Band of Faith) - E.L. Peterson Park

12:00 - 4:30 p.m. - Marketplace and World Craft demonstrations - Sherin Park

1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Childrens crafts and games from around the world. Piñatas at 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 pm - Sherin Park

1:00 - 4:30 p.m. - World Music and Dance - featuring Nadine Wagner Brown, Mistress of Ceremonies Extraordinaire - Sherin Park Shelter

Featuring (in order of appearance):

Heather & Thistle Bagpipe & Drum Group (Dan Aird, Fargo, North Dakota)

A Touch of Spain- Flamenco Music and Dance (Michael Hauser & Friends, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

English-Spanish Experience: Jonathan Walz with Nancy Hilber (Local musicians)

Bosnian Folk Dance Group (Fargo- Moorhead)

Native American song and storytelling - Monte Yellow Bird

Somali song and dance (Local performers)

Folk Songs from around the world - Roger Tweiten

7:00 p.m. - English-Spanish worship service - Sherin Park

Like life, all the above scheduled events are subject to constant changes.


For more information contact Festival Organizer Johanna Christianson

9th Annual International Friendship Festival 2006

8th Annual International Friendship Festival 2005