At Winnipeg’s Folklorama Ethnic Culture Reigns Supreme
By Habeeb Salloum
The Salsa music seemed to thunder as we
sat watching the beautiful dancers of one of Cuba’s most successful performance
groups keeping perfect time to the beat. As I sat, with perhaps a thousand
others in the audience, I felt excited and thrilled as both the men and women
swayed to the fast beat of Caribbean numbers at the Cuban pavilion at Winnipeg’s
Folklorama – an annual event showcasing the city’s ethnic communities and
exposing the best of their cultural heritage. A two-week celebration of
multicultural pride this festival just keeps getting better and better year
after year.
Before being familiar with Folklorama,
when Winnipeg, Manitoba’s capital came to mind, I visualized the Red River and
Louis Riel – the Colourful Metís leader who had a hand in the formation of the
province of Manitoba. However, after tasting the joys of Folklorama my vision of
the city expanded and Winnipeg became more appealing than ever.
The longest running and the largest
multicultural party in the world celebrating diversity and promoting cultural
understanding the Festival, which has become part of Winnipeg’s history, offers
something for everyone. It highlights cultural displays, souvenir outlets and
entertainment with nightly shows by national and international performers.
Appealing even more to visitors are the
many types of ethnic foods, a good number vying with wholesome home-cooked
meals. During all the days of the festival there is a feast of the senses and
the palate as visitors travel the culinary journey around the world’s kitchens.
One can dine on paella in the Spanish Pavilion, moussaka in the Greek Pavilion,
chicken adobo in the Philippine Pavilion, buffalo stew in the First Nations
Pavilion, chicken jerky in the Caribbean Pavilion, manju in the Japanese
Pavilion, and, suffice to say, there is much, much more.
There are over 50 ethnic groups in
Winnipeg, a city of 700,000, and most take part in this annual colourful event
in which some 20,000 volunteers take part. They entertain, demonstrate
handicrafts, prepare traditional foods and staff the pavilions. Demonstrating
pride in their cultural heritage, they try to share this love with visitors –
extending to the guests their heart-warming hospitality.
Folklorama began in 1970, sponsored by
the city of Winnipeg to commemorate Manitoba’s 100th birthday. It showcased, in
a vivid manner, the cultural heritage of the people who settled in the province.
Everyone, it seemed, enjoyed the Festival’s exhilarating atmosphere and varied
foods. Thereafter, it became, under the auspices of the Folk Arts Council of
Winnipeg, an annual extravaganza of diversity and kinship, drawing, in 2005,
447,000 visitors who pumped millions into the local economy. Many of these
travel to Winnipeg with tours groups. They often combine the excitement of
Folklorama with a variety of top attractions in and around Winnipeg to create an
all-encompassing tour package.
Full of energy and electrifying events,
the Festival, spread throughout the city of Winnipeg, is a fine smorgasbord of
ethic delicacies and cultural demonstrations. Each pavilion usually offers three
30-minute lively shows every evening. Entertainment is given high priority in
all the pavilions and there is a perennial challenge of presenting performances
that will draw the crowds.
In-between shows visitors can watch
artisans at work; shop for exotic products; try ethnic foods and drinks or dine
on a fine home-cooked meal. During the Festival most guests will visit from 5 to
10 pavilions and be enthralled with the diverse entertainment, friendly
atmosphere and exotic culinary delights, visitors usually returning year after
year to visit other pavilions.
In 2006, for its 37th annual festival,
43 pavilions were featured and in 2007, Folklorama will present 22 pavilions in
week one and 23 in week two, located in arenas, auditoriums, cultural centres,
curling rinks and schools. From dancing and music to comedy and martial arts,
this festival’s pavilions will ensure that guests will see their culture at its
best. One of the most spectacular events in Manitoba’s capital, it will once
again turn the city upside-down in a whirlwind of joy and pleasure.
The yearlong undertaking by volunteers
to organize their pavilions and the exotic aura of these tiny mini-nations has
produced results - winning for the Festival numerous awards. From among these:
Folklorama has been recognized as the best festival depicting Canadian culture
by the ‘World Tourism Organization’; the ‘American Bus Association’ has also
repeatedly listed it as one of the top ten ‘Super Events’ in North America; and
the June 2006 issue of ‘Reader’s Digest’ named Folklorama as the best
‘Multicultural Festival’ from a list of Canada’s ‘Choicest Treasures’.
A must-see for all those who travel to
Winnipeg in August, Folklorama with its ethnic pavilions proudly displaying
their history through artefacts, artworks, photos and national costumes annually
awaits them. Visitors can view cultural icons from around the world without
travelling beyond the borders of Winnipeg. There is little doubt that Folklorama
has made its mark in the Canadian cultural world and it is here to stay.
Facts About Folklorama:
In 2007 Folklorama ‘s kick-off will be
on August 4, and the event itself will take place from August 5 to 18.
For Further Information,
Contact:
Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg Inc., 2nd
Floor - 183 Kennedy Street, Winnipeg MB, Canada R3C 1S6. Tel: 1.204.982.6210 or
Toll Free from Anywhere in North America 1.800.665.0234
Fax: 1.204.943.1956. Email:
folkarts@folklorama.ca Website:
www.folklorama.ca
The Salsa music seemed to thunder as we
sat watching the beautiful dancers of one of Cuba’s most successful performance
groups keeping perfect time to the beat. As I sat, with perhaps a thousand
others in the audience, I felt excited and thrilled as both the men and women
swayed to the fast beat of Caribbean numbers at the Cuban pavilion at Winnipeg’s
Folklorama – an annual event showcasing the city’s ethnic communities and
exposing the best of their cultural heritage. A two-week celebration of
multicultural pride this festival just keeps getting better and better year
after year.
Before being familiar with Folklorama,
when Winnipeg, Manitoba’s capital came to mind, I visualized the Red River and
Louis Riel – the Colourful Metís leader who had a hand in the formation of the
province of Manitoba. However, after tasting the joys of Folklorama my vision of
the city expanded and Winnipeg became more appealing than ever.
The longest running and the largest
multicultural party in the world celebrating diversity and promoting cultural
understanding the Festival, which has become part of Winnipeg’s history, offers
something for everyone. It highlights cultural displays, souvenir outlets and
entertainment with nightly shows by national and international performers. 
Appealing even more to visitors are the
many types of ethnic foods, a good number vying with wholesome home-cooked
meals. During all the days of the festival there is a feast of the senses and
the palate as visitors travel the culinary journey around the world’s kitchens.
One can dine on paella in the Spanish Pavilion, moussaka in the Greek Pavilion,
chicken adobo in the Philippine Pavilion, buffalo stew in the First Nations
Pavilion, chicken jerky in the Caribbean Pavilion, manju in the Japanese
Pavilion, and, suffice to say, there is much, much more.
There are over 50 ethnic groups in
Winnipeg, a city of 700,000, and most take part in this annual colourful event
in which some 20,000 volunteers take part. They entertain, demonstrate
handicrafts, prepare traditional foods and staff the pavilions. Demonstrating
pride in their cultural heritage, they try to share this love with visitors –
extending to the guests their heart-warming hospitality.
Folklorama began in 1970, sponsored by
the city of Winnipeg to commemorate Manitoba’s 100th birthday. It showcased, in
a vivid manner, the cultural heritage of the people who settled in the province.
Everyone, it seemed, enjoyed the Festival’s exhilarating atmosphere and varied
foods. Thereafter, it became, under the auspices of the Folk Arts Council of
Winnipeg, an annual extravaganza of diversity and kinship, drawing, in 2005,
447,000 visitors who pumped millions into the local economy. Many of these
travel to Winnipeg with tours groups. They often combine the excitement of
Folklorama with a variety of top attractions in and around Winnipeg to create an
all-encompassing tour package.
Full of energy and electrifying events,
the Festival, spread throughout the city of Winnipeg, is a fine smorgasbord of
ethic delicacies and cultural demonstrations. Each pavilion usually offers three
30-minute lively shows every evening. Entertainment is given high priority in
all the pavilions and there is a perennial challenge of presenting performances
that will draw the crowds.
In 2006, for its 37th annual festival,
43 pavilions were featured and in 2007, Folklorama will present 22 pavilions in
week one and 23 in week two, located in arenas, auditoriums, cultural centres,
curling rinks and schools. From dancing and music to comedy and martial arts,
this festival’s pavilions will ensure that guests will see their culture at its
best. One of the most spectacular events in Manitoba’s capital, it will once
again turn the city upside-down in a whirlwind of joy and pleasure.
The yearlong undertaking by volunteers
to organize their pavilions and the exotic aura of these tiny mini-nations has
produced results - winning for the Festival numerous awards. From among these:
Folklorama has been recognized as the best festival depicting Canadian culture
by the ‘World Tourism Organization’; the ‘American Bus Association’ has also
repeatedly listed it as one of the top ten ‘Super Events’ in North America; and
the June 2006 issue of ‘Reader’s Digest’ named Folklorama as the best
‘Multicultural Festival’ from a list of Canada’s ‘Choicest Treasures’.