Longtime Folkmoot volunteer and supporter George Escaravage was given the Alan Brown award for service to the international dance festival at the July 22 Gala Preview held at Eaglenest Entertainment in Maggie Valley.

Escaravage is a former Folkmoot USA board president who was instrumental in moving the dance festival to its current location at the old Hazelwood Elementary School, which is now known as the Folkmoot Friendship Center. He helped acquire congressional money to pay for improvements to the center, volunteered as co-interim executive director of the festival when it was between directors, and for many years was in charge of organizing Folkmoot’s portion of International Festival Day, along with volunteering in many other ways.

Current Folkmoot USA Board President Chuck Dickson said Escaravage’s “contagious enthusiasm for Folkmoot has motivated us all. We are deeply grateful for his inspiration and for his many years of service to Folkmoot and to our community.”

The Alan Brown Award is named after an Englishman who helped establish Folkmoot and is given for “extraordinary service and dedication” to the festival. In its 27 years, Escaravage is just the ninth recipient. Previous honorees were founder Dr. Clinton Border, former Speaker of the House Liston Ramsey, former Rep. Charles Beall, Tim Welch, Rufus Setser, Ken Wilson and Rolf Kaufman.