A Sprocket Mural Works mural at the Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg, PA. Photo courtesy of Sean Simmers, PennLive.com July 12, 2016

2021 Annual Meeting
Unlock the 2021 Annual Meeting Hub
Take Time to Explore Harrisburg and Region with Help of Local Guides
The 133rd annual meeting of the American Folklore Society was held virtually October 18-20 and in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, October 21-23.
The theme of the meeting was Natural States: Environment, Politics, and Tradition
Watch What Happened
Anyone can visit the 2021 Annual Meeting Hub, and registered participants can view recordings of many conference proceedings through April 2022.
Not yet registered? It’s not too late.

Annual Meeting
Financial Support
You can defer your registration payment until later (choose “bill me” at check out), and/or you can apply for financial assistance for registration or membership fees.
Every little gift can make a big difference
With your help, we can make the AFS annual meeting more accessible than ever.
The 2021 AFS Annual Meeting Offered Two Ways to Participate
The entire conference took place October 18-23, 2021, as follows:
Virtual Program
The first three days, October 18-20, were exclusively virtual. Most sessions were recorded for asynchronous access.
Harrisburg Program
Roughly 200 participants gathered October 21–23 at the Hilton Harrisburg in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Some of the events from the in-person meeting were live-streamed and/or recorded.
Check out our FAQs for more general information.

You Can Still Participate at the 2021 Annual Meeting Hub
The Annual Meeting Hub is the place to engage: this is where you can view the entire program, find recordings, and shop for books. The Hub will remain accessible until May 1.
Anyone can see the Annual Meeting Hub, but only registered, logged-in users will be able to access live and recorded sessions, presenters’ contact information, and participate in forums.
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Meeting Essentials
Everything related to the 2021 AFS Annual Meeting, including registration information, proposal guidelines, and policies and procedures for attendees and presenters.
Covid Update -
Annual Meeting Registration
Your registration fees are important to us as a contribution to the cost of producing a meeting to keep us all connected, come what may.
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Annual Meeting Financial Support
If registration fees might prevent your participation in the 2021 Annual Meeting, apply for a scholarship to reduce or eliminate the obstacle.
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Information for Attendees
The 2021 meeting had both in-person and virtual programs: Virtual Program: the first three days, October 18-20, presented exclusively vir
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Information for Presenters
The 2021 Annual Meeting Hub is live! Custom-built by AFS staff, the hub is your starting place: view the entire program, join virtual sessio
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Annual Meeting FAQs
Wonder what’s going on with the our 2021 Annual Meeting planning? Read on to find answers to your questions. Have additional questions?
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Annual Meeting Policies
Please review our Annual Meeting Policies before registering. These policies are subject to further revision before the meeting. We

Hear from Harrisburg: Virtual Summer Series
You don’t have to go to Harrisburg to learn more about the traditions and perspectives of the diverse communities who live there. The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts made it possible for you to hear from traditional artists and practitioners from central and southern Pennsylvania as they talk about the work they do and how it sustains their communities.
2021 Annual Meeting Planning Committee
Program Planning Committee
Simon J. Bronner, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, co-chair
Anthony Bak Buccitelli, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, co-chair
Local Arrangements Committee
Brant Ellsworth, Central Penn College, co-chair
Yvonne Milspaw, Harrisburg Area Community College, co-chair
Dan Ben-Amos, University of Pennsylvania
Troy Boyer, Lebanon Valley College
Penny Brady, Visit Harrisburg and Hershey
Danille Christensen, Virginia Tech University
Coralynn Davis, Bucknell University
Joyce Davis, PennLive
Carl Dickson, Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Department
Russell Frank, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Jess Hayden, Susquehanna Folk Music Society
Cory Hutcheson, Kutztown University
Mira Johnson, CUNY, Bronx Community College
Fariha Khan, University of Pennsylvania
Jing Li, Gettysburg College
Anna Wei Marshall, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg
David Maher, Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PHMC)
Jim McMahon, Landis Valley Museum
Semontee Mitra, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg
Gloria Merrick
Dana Payne, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Christopher Perez, University of Maryland
David J. Puglia, CUNY, Bronx Community College
Debra Lattanzi Shutika, George Mason University
Amy Skillman, Goucher College
Lenwood Sloan
Kara Rogers Thomas, Frostburg State University
Jeffrey Tolbert, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg
Vivian Yenika-Agbaw, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Questions about the annual meeting? Check our FAQs, or send a message to [email protected].