Folklorama like ‘coming home’

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This article was published 06/08/2017 (2996 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After much pre-event teasing and celebration, Folklorama officially kicked off in Winnipeg Sunday. Twenty pavilions scattered from the Chief Peguis Trail to Lindenwoods will share tastes, performances and sights from around the world. It’s the 48th year for the festival, and organizers are hoping the world’s longest-standing multicultural festival will continue to grow.

“We’re always keen to have those numbers grow and expand,” said Folklorama executive director Debra Zoerb, noting last year’s festival drew 447,000 visits.

She added there are many factors that affect attendance, including the number of pavilions. This year’s 41 is down from last year’s 45 pavilions.

While the numbers may fluctuate, the goal remains the same.

“Our mission is to celebrate diversity and promote cultural understanding,” Zoerb said.

Each pavilion, even the four that have participated every year since 1970, adds something new to its mix. The four festival regulars are Germany, Scandinavia, Greece and Ukraine-Kyiv.

Celtic Ireland and United Kingdom were the first to open Sunday at 3 p.m. Ireland’s dance shows, which began at 3:45 p.m. and run 1 1/2 hours apart, feature North American champion and star in the famed Riverdance production, Fred Nguyen.

In the United Kingdom pavilion, Welsh, Irish, Scottish and highland dancers are sharing the spotlight. Bailey Cummins, 13, took to the stage with the McConnell School of Dance as a third-generation performer with the group. Her mother and grandmother waited in the wings in wizard costumes, greeting visitors.

It’s Harry Potter day at the pavilion, but more important to the family than the fiction associated with their culture is the history.

“I think children and grandchildren need to know what went on in past history so they understand the challenges all their parents and grandparents have gone through,” said Jocelyn Grant, Bailey’s grandmother.

The first floor of the pavilion served Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, but the second floor was reserved for historical displays.

The big building hosts a tight-knit group of volunteers, which is one of the reasons Folklorama personnel love putting the pavilion together every year.

“It’s like a reunion, coming home,” said Lynette Grant, Jocelyn’s daughter.

It takes about 20,000 volunteers to run the festival, and Day 1 didn’t mark the first day of their work.

“All of the volunteers have put in an intense number of hours” before Folklorama started, Zoerb said.

“It’s crazy getting ready, but it’s fun,” Jocelyn smiled.

Tickets are $6 per pavilion (free for children 12 and under), or $54 for 12 tickets (which can be shared with friends and family). More information on the festival can be found at folklorama.ca.