THUNDER BAY – Folklore Festival will run virtually again in 2022.
Jeanetty Jumah, in charge of sponsorship and promotion for the long-time celebration of all things multicultural in Thunder Bay, said the uncertainty surrounding pandemic restrictions left things too late for the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, the volunteer organizing committee and the vendors at the food booths would not have been able to get the required licenses or insurance.
Additionally, the organizing committee was left with little time to secure the venue, arrange sponsorships or do proper planning to hold a safe event.
“However, we will be running a Virtual Folklore Festival 2022 and adding a slightly more Folklorama Style Folklore touch, with the support of some of our Folklore Entertainers and former Folklore Festival Food Booth Vendors who were able to help us put this together,” Jumah said in a release issued on Tuesday.
“This will run this coming weekend on April 30 and May 1, which would have been Folklore Festival 2022 weekend. The virtual online Folklore Festival 2022 will also run for the next few months for your enjoyment.”
The plan is to return to an in-person event in 2023 to celebrate the Folklore Festival’s 50th anniversary.
To take part in the virtual trip around the world, visit www.folklorefestival.ca. Smaller versions are available on the Folklore Festival’s Facebook page.
“We can all come together and celebrate the rich diversity of Canada and take our trip around the world to experience the magnificent sights, sounds and flavours woven into the fabric of our country by our various ethno-cultural and Aboriginal communities,” said Jim Squier, chair of the Folklore Festival.
“Canada’s wealth lies in our rich cultural diversity. The traditions, the dances, the songs, the foods have made the Canadian mosaic a treasure, which will long endure.”
