Murfreesboro's International Folkfest returns June 6-13, 2027, with dance troupes from Chile, Poland and Italy. Most shows are free; here is the schedule.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Details come from the festival’s own website, schedule and about page, and the festival’s listing with CIOFF, the international folklore festival council.
The next International Folkfest is June 6-13, 2027, the festival’s website says. For a week each June, folk dance troupes from around the world perform in Murfreesboro and nearby towns, at schools, libraries, senior centers and free evening shows. The organizer has already posted its 2027 schedule and notes that dates and times may change.
At a glance
- When: June 6-13, 2027; public shows Monday, June 7, to Saturday, June 12
- Where: Murfreesboro, with shows in Smyrna, La Vergne, Eagleville, Bell Buckle, Lebanon, Woodbury and Mount Juliet
- Cost: Public shows are free
- Organizer: International Folkloric Society Planning Council
- Questions: Steve Cates, festival director, 615-896-3559
The 2027 troupes
The festival’s website lists four groups for 2027:
- Tierramar Folklore Ensemble, Chile
- Stowarzyszenie Artystyczne Skowronki (Lark Artistic Association), Poland
- Agrigento Antica Folklore Group, Italy
- Cripple Creek Cloggers, Murfreesboro’s own Appalachian dance team
The Slim Chance Band of Smyrna plays as house band at the evening shows.
The big evening shows (free)
All the troupes perform together at these, from the 2027 schedule:
| When | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 9 | Murfreesboro Center for the Arts, 110 W. College St. | Free |
| 6 p.m. Thursday, June 10 | Bell Buckle Banquet Hall, 27 Railroad Square, Bell Buckle | Free; dinner for a fee |
| 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 11 | Cedar Glade Brews, 906 Ridgely Road | Free; bring lawn chairs; food trucks |
| 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 12 | Simply Smyrna, Smyrna Depot District, 101 Front St., Smyrna | Free; dances 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; street closed to cars |
Daytime shows open to the public
The troupes split up during the day. These stops on the schedule are listed as free and open to the public:
- Tuesday, June 8: Italy at the Smyrna Senior Activity Center, 100 Raikes St., Smyrna, 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, June 9: Italy at Linebaugh Library, 105 W. Vine St., Murfreesboro, 10 a.m.; Chile at the La Vergne Public Library, 5063 Murfreesboro Road, 10 a.m.
- Thursday, June 10: Italy at the Lebanon Special School District, 397 N. Castle Heights Ave., Lebanon, 9:30 a.m.; Chile at the Smyrna Library, 400 Enon Springs Road W., 10 a.m.; Poland at the Eagleville Library, 317 Old Highway 99, 11:30 a.m.
- Friday, June 11: Chile at the Technology Engagement Center, 306 Minerva Drive, Murfreesboro, 10 a.m.; Italy at the Cannon County Senior Center, 609 W. Lehman St., Woodbury, 10 a.m.; Poland at the Myrtle Glanton Lord Public Library in Patterson Park Community Center, 521 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Murfreesboro, 11 a.m.
Visits to senior living communities, the Tennessee Veterans Home and a Monday evening event for invited guests are private.
Parking and what to know
- Bring a chair to the Cedar Glade Brews and Smyrna shows, the organizer says. Both are outdoors.
- Smyrna: Front Street in the Depot District is closed to vehicles for Simply Smyrna; the dancers perform in front of the British Shoppe.
- Parking: The festival has not published parking details for any venue. Call the venue if you need them.
- Changes: The organizer says dates and times are subject to change. Check the schedule the week before.
About the festival
The International Folkloric Society Planning Council is a Murfreesboro nonprofit formed in 1986 to promote and preserve international cultural heritage through the arts. It is a partner of CIOFF, the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts, and says the Folkfest is one of only three CIOFF-affiliated festivals still active in the United States. Its CIOFF listing called 2026, held June 7-14, the festival’s 44th year.
The group is funded by grants and donations and also sends local dancers abroad: in July 2026 the Cripple Creek Cloggers and the Slim Chance Band represented Tennessee at a festival in Zagreb, Croatia, according to the festival’s press page.
When are Folkfest dates announced?
The festival runs in the first half of June. The organizer had posted its 2027 dates and troupes by October 2026, and its about page already lists 2028 as “TBA.” We will update this page as the 2027 week nears.
More ideas: summer camps and pools, things to do this month and live music and nightlife.
Who to call
- Steve Cates, festival director: 615-896-3559
- Mailing address: 1216 E. Main St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Frequently asked questions
When is the International Folkfest in Murfreesboro in 2027?
The festival’s website lists June 6-13, 2027. Its published schedule has public shows from Monday, June 7, to Saturday, June 12, and says dates and times may change.
Is the International Folkfest free?
Yes, the public shows on the schedule are free. Some daytime visits to senior living communities are private to residents and guests, and the Bell Buckle show offers dinner for a fee.
Which countries are coming to Folkfest 2027?
The organizer lists the Tierramar Folklore Ensemble from Chile, Skowronki from Poland, the Agrigento Antica Folklore Group from Italy and Murfreesboro’s own Cripple Creek Cloggers.
Who runs the Murfreesboro International Folkfest?
The International Folkloric Society Planning Council, a Murfreesboro nonprofit formed in 1986. Festival director Steve Cates can be reached at 615-896-3559.
Have your say