FOLKLORE FESTIVAL 2019 PRESS RELEASE

For: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: May 5th, 2019

Contacts: Michelle Lander-McKenzie, Folklore Festival Coordinator

(345-9551) Cell 474-6702

Jeanetty Jumah, Chair, Promotions (622-3710) jjumah@gmail.com

THE 46^th FOLKLORE FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO DRAW THE CROWDS!

Folklore Festival 2019 continues to draw in large crowds of enthusiastic visitors, amazing volunteers including our Main Stage performers, and an international array of temptations for visitors of all ages. This year well over 12,000 young and young in spirt, came to experience the wonder that is Folklore Festival and celebrate the rich diversity of Canada standing shoulder to shoulder travelling the World in 48 Hours right here in Thunder Bay.

The bustling crowd enjoyed 17 International Food Booths plus the TBMA Liquor Booth, a packed Entertainment Schedule, a Children’s Area with all free activities, superb exhibits, “shop-the-world” booths, Goodwill Ambassadors, and artists. Feature Entertainers, the Thunder Bay Ceili Band whisked visitors off to Ireland with traditional Irish music and a lively Ceili Dance. We discovered the joy of Irish dancing with directions from delightful caller Terry Smith and made new friends as people came together in rousing jigs and reels.

The enchanting and lively Opening Ceremonies, the “Parade of Nations” featured performances from areas all over the world including Flamenco Dancers, graceful Thai dancers, beautiful performances from India, the Zorya Ukrainian Dance Association and so much more.

Happy face-painted children enjoyed the free bouncy Pirate Ship inflatable courtesy of Tbaytel and great crafts as we celebrated “Scotland” in the Children’s Area with the Morgan’s School of Highland Dancing, while other visitors shopped the world and viewed the exhibits, and artist displays.

The packed Entertainment Schedule allowed visitors to travel the world with the Kiikurit Finnish Folk Dancers, impressive First Nations performances, adorable little Portuguese Folklore Dancers, The Pipes and Drums of Thunder Bay, and the Macgillivray Pipe Bands, Chaban Ukrainian Dance Group, and new to Folklore, Club culturel francophone de Thunder Bay's choir, Heran Zhao who has performed at Carnegie Hall, and St.Ignatius Highschool’s taste of Rock of Ages USA as visitors discovered the beauty of performances from all over the world.

Temptations in the packed Food Court Area, drew visitors to Slovak cabbage rolls, authentic Indian curries, freshly made Bannock, Greek salads, African goat curry, and tempting Mediterranean delights. Not surprising were the huge number of visitors carrying takeout bags with authentic foods of the World as well.

Folklore Festival celebrates the rich cultural diversity of Canada letting visitors experience the magnificent sights, sounds and flavours woven into the fabric of our country by our various ethnocultural and Aboriginal communities. Respect, awe, and appreciation were clearly shown as people from all backgrounds stood together enjoying Folklore Festival.

The winner of the free Stay-Cation Draw was Pat Moore from Thunder Bay.

A big thank you to all the visitors, sponsors, the local media for their support, entertainers, Food Booth groups, exhibitors, artists, ambassadors, the Folklore Festival Committee and our wonderful volunteers who helped to make Folklore Festival 2019 a tremendous success. We look forward to our 47^th Folklore on May 2-3, 2020.