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may 17 , 2010
Berlin Festival to Feature Log Burling, Northern NH Cultures, and a Festival of Foods

Dick Huot, director of the Northern Forest Heritage Park speaks about northern NH 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 tiny corner of a tiny state, he lists the wildest, most vibrant explosion of activities a rural traveler could reasonably expect to find.

It's 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 and do it 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," magnetic fishing derbies, a strolling minstrel, Rosemaling, and of course a huge selection of traditional ethnic foods you've 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 submersed log longer than your opponent. Patrick Ross, the "North Country Fiddler" will perform on-stage. He is a fiddling favorite of audiences throughout our 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 their Kanteles. Kanteles have a rich history going back in Finland's history some 2000 years.

The French-Canadian "Festival du Bois" and the Norwegian "Syttende Mai" festivals merged to form the Cultural Festival. This event has matured and wildly 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 food 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.

To learn more about this event visit; http://www.northernforestheritage.org/images/CFPoster.pdf

Dave Ridley
(603) 721-1490