THUNDER BAY – The Folklore Festival wound down on Sunday putting another successful year into the history books.
Folklore Festival 2015 brought large and enthusiastic crowds of Festival visitors to the 42nd Canadian multicultural celebration.
Almost 12,000 people came out to “Travel the World” right here in Thunder Bay during the two day Festival.
Warm weather brought out smaller crowds than usual on Saturday but with a little rain early Sunday, Folklore crowds came out in huge numbers filling the Food Court quickly and the Main Arena, a trend that continued all day Sunday.
“We thank our visitors, volunteers, and participants for another successful Folklore Festival,” said Jeanetty Jumah, the organizer of the festival.
The Festival featured the enchanting and lively Opening Ceremonies, a “Parade of Nations” with thirteen cultural groups including lively performances by the flying hammer swinging Chaban Ukrainian Dancers and a lively Pizzica Tarantata by the Le Stelle Alpine Dancers. The Main Stage Entertainment with the impressive First Nations Dancers, the Kiikurit Finnish Folk Dancers, the young Morgan’s School of Highland Dancing, and the Kaminari Wan Taiko Japanese Drummers to name a few, thrilled visitors.
Folklore’s theme “The World Comes to Thunder Bay” celebrated Canada as a land of many cultures and beautiful people with two jam-packed days of tantalizing international foods, wines and beers, exhibits including the new Shree Decorations – South Asian and so much more.
Feature Entertainers, the talented and HOT “Imbayakunas” from Ecuador brought Music of the Andes and Hot Latin Rhythms that spoke to the heart and soul on Saturday evening. From the very popular Children’s Area, to the superb artists, and international shopping from African to Thai to Ecuadorian treasures on site, Folklore enchanted visitors of all ages.
“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 2015 a great success. We look forward to our 43rd Folklore Festival on April 30 and May 1, 2016,” shared Jumah..
