A row of enthusiastic children welcome guests at Pearl of the Orient Philippine Pavilion during Folklorama, Winnipeg’s premier summer festival. (Rod Charles photo for Vacay.ca)
I’ll never forget the row of children greeting us at the Pearl of the Orient Philippine Pavilion during Folklorama in Winnipeg last year. The girls dressed in traditional green and red uniforms with white flowers and the boys in plaid shirts welcomed visitors with smiles and high fives as we entered the building.
“Hello there!” they cried out, with a few of them showing off their best voguing moves as we entered. “Welcome to the Pearl of the Orient!”
Their show, one of several performed throughout the city that evening, was a spectacular production that felt Cirque du Soleil-ish in its quality. Hats off to the producers who made the show a reality but in my opinion it was the young greeters and performers who stole the show — and our hearts.
Folklorama is the largest and longest-running multicultural festival of its kind in the world. An award-winning extravaganza that is celebrated throughout the city over two weeks, Folklorama bills itself as an event where guests can experience traditional arts, costumes, warm hospitality, authentic recipes, dance, and music. In short, you can explore several cultures of the world without a passport or plane ride.
During my stay I took part in a three Pavilion VIP tour that included a visit to the British Isles Pavilion, Africa / Caribbean Pavilion, and Pearl of the Orient Philippine Pavilion. The show, food, and shopping was wonderful at each stop during my tour but it was the young adults and children — talented musicians, greeters, and dancers — who made my time at the festival truly special.
The Mexican Pavilion will celebrate the rich and vibrant culture of three Northern Mexico states: Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, with their “Viva El Norte” Pavilion. (Photo courtesy of Salvador Maniquiz)
A Canadian Cultural Heavyweight
Launched in August 1970, Folklorama is one of Canada’s most family-friendly events, with each pavilion showcasing its own unique flavour and style. My first encounter with Folklorama was in 1988 during a summer visit to the city. I remember dropping into a Caribbean-focused pavilion and enjoying culinary dishes and music that at the time were only available to me when I visited family in Toronto or my grandmother in St. Kitts. So the opportunity to check out Folklorama again as an adult had been on my bucket list for decades.
The event has come a long way since my initial visit and has turned into a Canadian cultural heavyweight, with the festival transforming dozens of religious buildings, community centres, schools, and hockey rinks into miniature embassies. Every year over 20,000 volunteers sign up to make this Manitoba icon a success.
“The heart of Folklorama is the Folklorama family,” says Bridget Peterson, President, Folklorama Board of Directors. “These volunteers work tirelessly to bring Folklorama to life each year. In total, there are more than 8,000 volunteers who dedicate over 300,000 volunteer hours each year.”
Featuring 38 pavilions and drawing more than 400,000 people, 3,000 entertainers and more than 1,500 shows each year, Folklorama is an entertainment powerhouse that has been thrilling audiences for over 50 years.
At the Pavilion of Portugal, guests will enjoy unique music and lively traditional dances as well as a satisfying selection of seafood, including octopus, cod, and shrimp. (Photo courtesy of Salvador Maniquiz)
Folklorama features a full complement of shows that take place during the first week, which then switches over to new performances the following week. The 2024 festival kicks off August 4 with a full roster for week one and week two will feature 19 pavilions throughout the city. Week one includes Ukraine Kyiv Pavilion, South Sudanese Pavilion, Japanese Pavilion, and the Casa do Minho Portuguese Pavilion. The second week will feature a new set of shows including the Ethiopian Pavilion, Greek Pavilion, Slovenija Pavilion, and the Korean Pavilion.
Global Culture at the Heart of Folklorama
What struck me the most was the variety of shows that were available. One of the greatest qualities of Folklorama is that it can be many things to different people — the ultimate family night, an evening with the boys or girlfriends, or a quiet date night listening to authentic music and enjoying good food.
Another wonderful aspect of the festival is that some items available for purchase simply won’t be found anywhere else in Canada. While shopping at the British Isles Pavilion I was able to pick up a bag of toffee for my mother that she hadn’t enjoyed since her nursing student days in England. When I got home and gifted her the treat she couldn’t stop smiling and telling stories of her time in England as she slowly sucked on the candy.
The Pavilion of Scotland will feature the Ena Sutton Highland Dancers of Winnipeg, the Manitoba Highland Dancers’ Association, Glenaura Pipeband, and the Flying Haggis Showband. (Photo courtesy of Salvador Maniquiz)
Try to get in on one of the VIP Tours. My package included a luxury motorcoach with choice of drop-off and pick-up location, VIP entrance, reserved seating, a tour of the cultural display at my first stop, and table service. The evening featured progressive meals throughout the evening — an appetizer at the first stop, a main course at the second, and dessert at the final location. There was also a tour guide available. Cost: $77.95 per person, including taxes (plus applicable service fee).
While it is to be expected that some have higher production value than others it’s safe to say that you will have a great time at any pavilion. There was a wide selection of food at each stop, although the lines at some of the pavilions was long so try to get there early. Folklorama 2024 will have some new twists including different show times, new VIP tours including A Sweet Tooth Tour, international performing groups, and late-night parties. Visitors can also take part in cycling, luxury motorcoach, or walking tours.
Two ambassadors from the Spanish Pavilion enjoy festivities at the Métis pavilion. (Rod Charles photo for Vacay.ca)
After a wonderful week in Winnipeg my last Folklorama stop was the Métis Pavilion. It was a fantastic show but without question one of the highlights was watching two children around the age of four jump up from their table and shake to the rhythm of the music on stage, comically trying with to keep up with the teenage Métis entertainer who was dancing at jackhammer speed. Those poor kids, doing their best to summon their inner Sammy Davis Jr., were falling over each other trying to keep up with the performer. Finally burned out and on the ground the two youngsters couldn’t stop laughing — and neither could the people seated at the table with me — as their proud mother helped them off the floor.
As I said, if you have the pleasure of attending Folklorama you will love the food, colours, costumes, music, and performances that each pavilion has to offer. But I promise it will be the young people who will steal the show — and your heart.
MORE ABOUT FOLKLORAMA 2024
Website: folklorama.ca/festival/
Dates: August 4-17
Find a Pavilion: folklorama.ca/festival/find-a-pavilion-2/
Prices: https://folklorama.ca/festival/admission-options-2/
Tourism Winnipeg: Visit the organization’s website for trip-planning ideas.
