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One of Oklahoma's most popular fall events, the Beavers Bend Folk Festival & Craft Show, kicks off on Friday, November 13 and runs through November 15 in Beavers Bend State Park.

The park is located in southeast Oklahoma, and provides a spectacular setting for the event, with fall foliage at its peak. Hosted by the Oklahoma Forest Heritage Center, the annual festival draws 17,000 attendees and features more than 50 high quality exhibitors, a variety of unique foods and live folk music on an outdoor stage throughout the weekend.

???The Folk Festival makes for a great fall weekend getaway,??? said State Forester George Geissler. ???I encourage everyone to enjoy this unique event and being outdoors in one of the state's most beautiful parks while the leaves are at their peak.???

Featuring turn-of-the-century arts and crafts, exhibitors will be demonstrating candle making, woodturning, soap making, knife making, quilting and more. Herbalists will share information and instrument makers and quilters will display their work. Crafters will offer a wide variety of handmade items for sale, including soaps, wreaths, jewelry, pottery and wood products. Additionally, a children's area includes storytelling, a petting zoo and interactive puppet shows.

???The number of hands-on demonstrations is really unique to this festival,??? said Geissler. ???Visitors will have the opportunity to get a close look and even participate in things like making soap, wood carving, pottery and paper.???

The Beavers Bend Folk Festival & Craft Show is made possible by the Forest Heritage Center Advisory Board; Oklahoma Arts Council; McCurtain County Tourism Authority; Oklahoma Forestry Services; Oklahoma Humanities Council; National Endowment for the Humanities and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.

Festival hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. There is no charge to attend the festival. For more information, contact the Forest Heritage Center Museum (580) 494-6497, email fhc@beaversbend.com or visit www.forestry.ok.gov/folk-festival, where a list of exhibits and activities is available.