(MURFREESBORO)  The entire community is invited to learn history about Appalachian style square dancing at the May meeting of the Rutherford County Historical Society. It's at 7:00PM Monday night, May 15, 2023, in Manny Hall at Oaklands Mansion, 900 N. Maney Avenue.

Local educator and former 4-H club sponsor Steve Cates told WGNS News what the public would see at the May meeting of the Historical Society . . .

Cates started the group as a 4-H project in 1967 at Kittrell School in Readyville. The group’s popularity grew from the Readyville to cover the Volunteer State, nation and then around the world. Their first international tour was to Romania in 1973. Since then the Cripple Creek Cloggers have shared our heritage with Eastern and Western Europe, Central America, Morocco, all 50 states and much more.

This is the group that created the International FolkFest in 1986. The pandemic kept this popular event away for three years, but it returns to Murfreesboro and the mid-state June 4-11, 2023 for its 40th event.

This year folk troupes from Poland, Mexico, France, and the USA will perform. To learn more, visit their website: International Folkfest - Home (mboro-international-folkfest.org)

Full Interview with Steve Cates

To learn more about the Cripple Creek Cloggers, make it a point to attend the May meeting of the RUTHERFORD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY at 7:00PM on Monday evening, May 15, 2023. listen to this complete interview. Steve Cates will also tell about the upcoming International FolkFest, June 4-11, 2023.