The Great Hall at Saint Hill Manor was transformed into a vibrant celebration of global heritage this past weekend as the Dew Folklore Festival concluded the second day of festivities on Saturday, June 20th. Organized by Valerijus Vilcinskas, Co-Founder of Treasure Island GB, in partnership with the European Association of Folklore Festivals, the event marked the third consecutive year the historic venue has hosted the gathering, following successful returns in 2024 and 2025.

With 110 participants in attendance, the festival showcased the rich diversity of nine distinct cultures through 20 high-standard performances. The program featured an eclectic mix of traditional arts, including vocals from Tajikistan's SuhrobBabiev and English singer Courtney; traditional dance troupes from Lithuania, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Sri Lanka (courtesy of the Tamil Learning Centre, Crawley), Ecuador (Warmisgroup), and a Punjabi Bangla collective; as well as vocal performances from Russian artists.

The event was notable not only for its artistic calibre but for the seamless integration of cultural exchange. A defining moment of the afternoon saw performers from all nine nations joining together on stage for a unified final dance, blending national costumes and musical traditions into a singular expression of joy.

"The international folklore festival is a sight to behold," said Courtney, one of the performers. "A vast array of nationalities, ages, and talents all come together in what can only be described as a celebration of culture... There is quite simply nothing like it in the world today. THIS is tradition. THIS is a festival."

Feedback from participants highlighted Saint Hill Manor as an ideal setting for such cross-cultural dialogue. Performers from the Warmis group from Ecuador noted that the event was wonderful, and they look forward to even more interactive opportunities in future events. Similarly, Spaska Kaeva, Artistic Director of the Bulgarian Buenets Folklore Dance Group, praised the professionalism and warm atmosphere, stating, "The festival created a fantastic environment for cultural exchange, friendship, and celebration of diversity."

Throughout the event, attendees were also introduced to The Way to Happiness, a universal common sense guide to better living, written by humanitarian L Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology religion. Individual copies were presented to groups in their respective languages. Following the performances, guided tours of Saint Hill Manor were conducted, receiving rave reviews from guests who appreciated the historical significance of the location.

Organizers report that the consensus among attendees is a strong desire to return to Saint Hill for next year's festival. With 15 years of experience behind the event's organization, the collaboration between Treasure Island GB and the European Association of Folklore Festivals continues to establish itself as a premier platform for preserving and sharing living cultural traditions in the UK.