Rajasthan display at the India Pavillion. Photo by Rajinder Royem
Folklorama enjoyed another successful multi-cultural festival, with visitors from near and far gathering at 46 diverse pavilions from August 4 to 17. Winnipeg came alive over the past two weeks, as festival goers were treated to world-class cultural entertainment, delicious ethnic dishes, fascinating cultural displays, and all-around warm hospitality.
An incredible 20,000 volunteers came together to fulfill Folklorama’s mission of celebrating diversity and promoting cultural understanding. Performing groups from around the globe, including Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and Ukraine – in addition to artists from California, Louisiana, Nevada and Ontario – joined Folklorama’s talented local performers in showcasing their unique cultures.
“This year, Folklorama encouraged visitors to ‘Go Anywhere’ and travel the world in their own backyard,” says Dr. Rayleen De Luca, O.M., Folklorama President. “And that is exactly what people did! They came out by the hundreds of thousands to experience the celebration and preservation of Manitoba’s incredible multicultural mosaic. We are so proud of going strong for our 44th annual Festival and this is due to the passion and commitment of our amazing volunteers.”
People took in Folklorama in a variety of ways. Some visitors got on board a variety of VIP World Tours, which included multiple visits to pavilions, Late Night and Party tour options, as well as Cycle Tours and Accessibility Tours. This year, Folklorama attracted 124 group tours, including two from Japan, 11 from the United States, and 52 from the VIP World Tour program.
“These tours are yet another way visitors enjoyed the Festival,” says Folklorama Executive Director Debra Zoerb. “Single admissions remained our most popular option, with an affordable ticket price of $6 and free entry for children 12 and under. We also noticed strong sales with our Vickar Automotive Group Fun Packs, which provided a great value for families and groups of friends. It’s important to us that the Festival continues to be accessible to as many people as possible. Our volunteers work so hard all year long, and we’re thrilled that so many come out to enjoy the Festival.”
Folklorama 2013 saw increased public engagement for the Festival with tremendous growth online through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as through a series of promotional appearances and pop-up events around Winnipeg.
The 2013 Festival drew hundreds of thousands of visitors, with a preliminary estimate of over 416,600 pavilion visits.
Folklorama would like to thank our funders, the Province of Manitoba and Winnipeg Arts Council, as well as our valued sponsors.
Next year’s Festival will be held August 3 to 16, 2014.
Folklorama began in 1970 as a one-time celebration of Manitoba’s centennial but has since grown to be the largest and longest-running multicultural festival of its kind in the world. Developing out of the success of the Festival, the organization offers three year-round programs: Talent, Teachings and Travel. All of the programs bring to life the organization’s mission of celebrating diversity and promoting cultural understanding. To find out more, visit www.folklorama.ca. Follow @Folklorama on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
