About SPIFFS
SPIFFS is the only independent multi-ethnic organization of its kind in the United States. It was founded in 1975 as an umbrella organization of ethnic groups who joined together to present a festival during the U.S. Bicentennial Celebration. SPIFFS has been recognized by the Library of Congress and is found in its Local Legacies in Washington, D.C.
Each SPIFFS ethnic member group has a delegate and an alternate delegate to SPIFFS, which meets once a month for our General Assembly at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club downtown St. Petersburg. Meet our Board of Directors Follow us on Facebook |
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Services We Offer
In addition to the Annual Folk Fair in October, in which member groups highlight the culture, ethnic crafts, foods, and entertainment from their respective cultures. SPIFFS and its member groups offer the following services to the community, and we invite you to use them!
New members: Please call SPIFFS at (727) 552-1896 to get in touch with your roots by joining one of the existing groups or to join SPIFFS with new ethnic groups not currently represented. If you have some time to volunteer, please let us know! We have many volunteer opportunities, on an ongoing basis and at our festival.
Sister Cities St. Petersburg
SPIFFS manages the Sister Cities program for the city of St. Petersburg.
In addition to the Annual Folk Fair in October, in which member groups highlight the culture, ethnic crafts, foods, and entertainment from their respective cultures. SPIFFS and its member groups offer the following services to the community, and we invite you to use them!
- The Speakers Bureau: Folk artists and ethnic resource volunteers visit schools and other community venues to discuss the heritage of their ethnic group, share their music, dance, arts and crafts, and sometimes demonstrate ethnic food specialties.
- The Language Bank: More than 100 individuals handling more than 30 languages and dialects serve as translators and interpreters for the community in courts, hospitals and schools and assist local city and county officials with translations for visiting dignitaries.
- Folk Dance Groups: Many member groups have dance groups that are available to perform throughout the community. For entertainment groups, contact SPIFFS office.
New members: Please call SPIFFS at (727) 552-1896 to get in touch with your roots by joining one of the existing groups or to join SPIFFS with new ethnic groups not currently represented. If you have some time to volunteer, please let us know! We have many volunteer opportunities, on an ongoing basis and at our festival.
Sister Cities St. Petersburg
SPIFFS manages the Sister Cities program for the city of St. Petersburg.