Various venues across Winnipeg // August 3-16

Big Names // n/a

Local talent // Everyone!

Cost // $6 per pavillion + various ticket packages

Street parking rules apply

folklorama.ca

 

As Manitoba’s centennial was approaching, a wide variety of ideas were thought of to celebrate it. One particular idea has evolved into a staple of Manitoba’s summer festivals.  

Folklorama was to be a onetime event to commemorate the many cultures that make up the province. One week in the summer of 1970 saw the city come together to showcase 21 cultural pavilions. Some were merely tents in parking lots, but all had communities coming together to celebrate their heritage with food, drinks, music, dancing and cultural displays.  Community groups volunteered countless hours to ensure the festivals success.

Dr. Rayleen De Luca remembers her involvement that first year.

“While my mother cooked pots and pots of pasta, I was part of the entertainment at the first Italian pavilion,” she says. “I performed at each show over the week, in the parking lot, on a make-shift stage. I sang ‘Che Sera Sera’. In between shows, I cleaned tables. And thus, my Folklorama journey began.” That journey would have her being involved in Folklorama every single year since then, including serving a term as President of the Folklorama Board of Directors.

Folklorama has grown to a two week event that is now the largest and longest running multicultural festival in the world.  This year, from Aug 3 to 16 over 20,000 volunteers will host 43 cultural pavilions to delight people from across the province and the world.  The length of and number of pavilions in the festival is not the only thing to change over the years, as Folklorama has developed a large online presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. “Our new website is fully responsive – meaning that you can learn more about Folklorama on your desktop computer, tablet or smart phone,” says Folklorama Executive Director Debra Zoerb.  “The website will be particularly helpful for those wanting to plan their Folklorama experience, whether they are at home, or on-the-go.”  

The festival has always been designed to make planning your pavilion visits easy.  Each show a pavilion puts on is limited to a maximum of 45 minutes with another 45 minutes in between shows.  This allows for plenty of time to enjoy one pavilion and to get to the next one before the next show begins.  It’s a perfect multicultural pub crawl of sorts.  If you prefer, Folklorama offers many guided tours that will take care of the arrangements and lead you through the experience.  You can enjoy late night party tours, walking or cycling tours and VIP tours stopping at a different number of pavilions.  “We are willing to build a customized tour for a group of 15 or more,” Zoerb says.  While a number of pavilions have their own websites and social media, you can get the overview for the whole festival from Folklorama.  That includes a photo contest starting late July on Instagram where people can win Folklorama passes by showing #howifolklorama.  The contest will encourage people to show everything you enjoy about your Folklorama experience from the food, drinks, music, dance and cultural artifacts.

Once again Folklorama will start its celebration with The Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Folklorama Kick-Off at the Forks.  This free event running 4-11PM on Saturday July 26th will feature a multicultural marketplace, cultural demonstrations and a main stage featuring local and international performing groups, starting at 7pm.

Part of the series: 2014 Summer Festival Guide

Published in Volume 68, Number 28 of The Uniter (July 2, 2014)