The Koraci Croatian folklore ensemble will celebrate its fifth annual Autumn Festival on Sunday, October 8. This year, the all-day event will feature several guest performers in what promises to be an entertaining celebration of traditional Croatian music, dance, arts, crafts and food.

The Festival will be held on the picnic grounds of the Assumption of Mary Parish in San Jose. Special guests scheduled to perform include St. Anthony's Kolo Club from Los Angeles, the Kolibrici folk ensemble from Sacramento, Novi Stari Tamburasi and Dalmacijo Singers from San Francisco. As an added treat, respected Croatian folk dance choreographer and former Lado dancer Zeljko Jergan will teach kolo dancing.

The Koraci ensemble will also perform some of their perform a selection of their dances. Legendary tamburica orchestra "Sidro" will play songs off of their new album as well as traditional kolos for dancing. Food offerings will include spit-roasted lamb and pig, cevapcici, homemade desserts and Croatian wines. Children will be able to play a variety of games, while local artists will be displaying and selling their work.

Koraci is the largest Croatian youth ensemble in the Western United States, with nearly fifty members ranging in age from elementary to college. This festival is the group's largest and most important fundraiser.

The event begins at noon, immediately following the Sunday morning Mass and admission is free.