Folklorama

2013

The Manitoba Home Builders' Association is celebrating 75 years.

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w Jani-KingofManitobaanditsfranchisefamilyareproudsupporters oftheircommunitiesandofallparticipantsinFolklorama •Oscar&AnaConcha •S.E.Mb.-Jake&LizKrahn •MariaKeteman& EprameBeyene •EmbaSerivces •DynamicTrioGServices •BrandyLeeWruck •RomuladoLorenzoJr& ImeldaLorenzo •DawitGebru •WelduGubretu& EbrhtuBeyene •MekonenBerhe •TesfaldetGebremichael SomeofourJani-Kingfranchiseownersinclude: Formoreinformationpleasecall989-5925 oremailusatwpgoffice@janiking.mb.ca COMMERCIALandHOSPITALITY CLEANINGSERVICES For your travel guide, visit: www.folklorama.ca W hen you step into any Folklorama pavilion, you embark on an international extravaganza that encompasses talent, teachings and travel. At the 44th annual Folklorama, you can take a world tour of cultures at 46 pavilions set up across the city during two weeks of festivities from Aug. 4 to 17. Each week, 23 pavilions will be closely clustered in venues that allow guests to visit three destinations or more per night. The multicultural festival celebrates diversity with its spectacular shows, memorable meals and inclusive atmosphere. Executive director Debra Zoerb encourages everyone to come out to experience Folklorama, which has made its mark as the largest and longest-running multicultural festival of its kind in the world. "Some people want a fantastic show. Some people want delicious food. Some want the feeling of being welcomed into a community and really experiencing what that culture might be like," she said. "The pavilions do all of those things in different ways, so it really can become a personal experience for folks." It all began in 1970 when then-mayor Stephen Juba approached community groups to help create a memorable event for Manitoba's centennial celebration. They developed a weeklong festival and attracted 75,000 visits to 21 pavilions that showcased the city's cultural diversity. "It was supposed to be a one-time event. Everybody had so much fun and enjoyed doing it so much that here we are 44 years later," Zoerb said. "The festival has grown, but I think that's a testament to how our city has grown. It really reflects the changes in the demographic of our citizenship. We have all of these new communities within our greater community of Winnipeg who want to be a part of Folklorama and share their traditions and their heritage." Year after year, volunteers remain the driving force behind the family-friendly festival. "It is amazing because all of it truly comes from the community. We have 20,000 volunteers who come together to put Folklorama on," Zoerb said. "They want to share what it means to them to be a Canadian citizen, but they also have these other cultural traditions that they want to preserve and celebrate. They want to open their doors and welcome folks in." This intimate ambiance drew more than 400,000 pavilion visits last year, with guests travelling from near and far. "We work very closely with tour operators from across North America who bring in groups specifically to take part in Folklorama," Zoerb said. "It definitely does bring a lot of people into the city. There's a significant economic impact that Folklorama provides to the community." This year, festival-goers will be pleased to see five pavilions return after an absence: Croatian, Colombian, Indochina Chinese, Mexican and South Sudanese. With a range of admission options, guests can tailor their Folklorama experience to suit their individual needs. Admission costs $6 per pavilion for adults, seniors and youth. Children 12 and under get in free, and each adult can bring up to five kids. Folklorama fans can also buy fun packs of 12 transferrable tickets for $54, thereby reducing the admission price to $4.50 per pavilion. As well, VIP World Tours provide a multi-pavilion journey in one night, with the added benefit of bypassing lineups and enjoying progressive meals and drinks. The two-pavilion tour costs $54.95 per person, while the three-pavilion tour is $69.95 per person. This experience includes air-conditioned transportation from a central location, pavilion admission, reserved seating and table service. Specialty packages are also available, such as the late-night tour, the party tour, the cycle tour and the accessibility tour. "It truly is an opportunity to get to know these communities that are our neighbours here in our city and our province and to know more about their cultures while having a fun time. It really feels like being welcomed into a celebration," Zoerb said. The celebration begins with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Folklorama Kick-Off at The Forks on Sat., July 27 from 4 to 11 p.m. at the Scotiabank Stage. The free festivities will feature MTS Ethnic Market, cultural entertainment, a parade of ambassadors and a fireworks show. Folklorama travel guides are available at Manitoba Liquor Mart locations, Cambrian Credit Union branches, Vickar Automotive Group dealerships, Canada Safeway stores and a variety of other businesses around the city. Information is also available online at www.folklorama.ca or by calling 204-982- 6210. Folklorama celebrates culture and community By Jennifer McFee S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E W I N N I P E G F R E E P R E S S | S A T U R D A Y , J U L Y 2 7 , 2 0 1 3

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