Dance, music and clothing shared at Utah gathering

Springville • Every summer for nearly four decades, folk groups from around the globe have gathered to share their cultural heritage — from clothing to music to dance — in one small Utah city.

The World Folkfest started in 1986, and will be held in Springville this year from Tuesday through Saturday. This year, 10 countries are represented at the festival, including Ukraine, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Poland.

The performance groups arrived Sunday afternoon at the Springville Art Museum in four big buses, and were greeted by host families with cheers and waves. Soon, the complex around the museum’s entrance became a sea of suitcases as participants unloaded.