Cultural oasis

Stephanie Drebit hit up Folklore Festival for one reason and one reason only.

Her friend, Randy Thomas, was a little more adventurous.

“I come here just for the food and I’m eating a pork kabob from the Filipino place,” Drebit said Saturday, braving record crowds at the 40th annual celebration of all things multicultural, being held this weekend at Fort William Gardens.

“I actually come every year for this. It’s my favourite.”

Thomas, on the other hand, had his taste buds juiced for a culinary ride around the globe.

“I just like a little taste of everything,” he said.

Riley Burton, three-year-old daughter Grace in tow, said it’s become an annual tradition, a great family event, celebrating all the different cultures that make Thunder Bay great.

Like Drebit and Thomas, he’s there to fill his stomach with all the spicy delectables he can find.

“Personally, it’s the food. That’s always my excuse to get everyone out. But it’s pretty nice to have a jumping castle as well. And of course the entertainment is always a centrepiece here and showcases all the different groups, so it’s nice.”

Kathy Besserer brought her grandchildren to the festival. There’s not one thing the family doesn’t like about Folklore.

“They love it,” she said. “The food is fun, the atmosphere is fun. There’s lots of music, lots of entertainment. The kids just love it. They love the bouncy house. What do I like? Seeing everybody out. The music is amazing.”

Besserer added it’s a great learning experience for kids of all ages.

“They’re seeing all the different kids in the different outfits and they’re wondering why and what they’re doing and how they’re dancing, so it’s fun,” Besserer said.

Jeanetty Jumah, the festival spokesperson, called it a fantastic start to the weekend, adding in the first two hours the event was breaking attendance records, as visitors scrambled to the 21 food booths that line the floor of Fort William Curling Club.
It just goes to show how diverse the city really is, she said.

“We had 16 different nations performing on stage and the crowd was just packed in here. You’ve been to the food court and it’s packed in there. Come on down to Folklore Festival.”

Saturday night the Sattalites are set for perform they’re on brand of reggae music, living up to this year’s Afro-Caribbean theme.
Jeanetty said there are a number of reasons why the festival has lasted so long and seems to be getting even more popular as the years move on.

“This is one of the richest, most diverse nations on the planet. And if you look around, everyone is getting along. We’re valuing all the differences of people. We see them as assets. We see the Canadian mosaic. Canada is a place where you can bring your culture, your heritage, and blend it in and share all the wonderful aspects of it.”

Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, $1 for children four to 11 and free for children three and younger.