Folklorama

Folklorama
Frequency	Annually
Location(s)	Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Years active	46
Inaugurated	1970[1]
Most recent	August 2 to August 15, 2015
Next event	July 31 to August 13, 2016
Participants	Approx 3,000 entertainers and 20,000 volunteers
Attendance	approx. 413,000 (2014)
Website
www.folklorama.ca

Folklorama 2012 India Pavilion

Folklorama is an event that runs for two weeks each August in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Visitors to the festival are invited to sample cuisine and celebrate the cultural and ethnic heritage of people from dozens of countries who have made Winnipeg their home. Folklorama is the world's largest and longest-running multicultural festival.^[2]

Each country, region or culture has an assigned venue, known as a pavilion. Typically there are over 40 pavilions presented throughout the city, with half operating in week one and half in week two of the festival.^[3] Each pavilion presents a show featuring the song and dance of their culture, along with trademark ethnic cuisine and a cultural display. Some pavilions also incorporate additional services such as henna tattoo application, and some have late night parties. Most pavilions provide imported alcohol from their feature country/culture.

Folklorama provides exposure to cultural groups and brings in thousands of tourists each year, adding to the city's economy. It is the largest and longest-running festival of its kind in the world (determined by the International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art, also known as CIOFF).^[4] The Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg is the organizing body of Folklorama.

History

Performers at the 2012 Folklorama Scottish Pavilion

Folklorama was first held in August 1970. It was originally intended to be a one-time occurrence in celebration of Manitoba's centennial. It was deemed such a success that it became an annual event. The first festival was only a week long, featuring 21 different cultures; it drew approximately 75,000 separate pavilion visits.^[1] The festival adopted its current two-week format in 1988, with half of the pavilions open in each week. As of 2016, only four of the original pavilions have been open every year. They are: German, Ukraine-Kyiv, Greek, and Scandinavian.

The Folklorama logo was designed by Andy Stout who won the provincial logo contest in 1980. The 4 figures in the logo represent people from the four corners of the globe, who are intertwined, with arms raised in celebration. The festival's mascot, the Folklorama Llama, was created in 1986.^[1]

Until 1990, pavilions would have a mayor and a queen. The queen would be in the running for the Miss Folklorama pageant at the end of the Festival. The Miss Folklorama pageant was not a beauty pageant but a contest of ethnic preservation and presentation. Since 1990, pavilions now feature two adult ambassadors and two youth ambassadors, neither of whom must be of a specific gender.^[5]

Program Areas

Throughout the year, Folklorama is sustained by three business divisions that were created as a result of the success of the Festival: Travel, Talent, and Teachings.

Folklorama Travel offers year-round, full-service travel packages that are customized to meet the unique needs of tour and corporate groups. With more than 20 tourism partners throughout the province, Folklorama Travel offers a wide range of experiences both during Folklorama and year-round to create fun, highly-interactive, and culturally enlightening adventures – for both locals and tourists alike.

Folklorama Talent offers professional, full-service event planning tailored to meet the unique needs of a variety of corporate clients, as well as an entertainment booking service with access to more than 80 multicultural and contemporary performing groups.

Folklorama Teachings offers a wide range of fun and educational cultural programs to meet the individual needs of educators across Manitoba, including daycare and elementary teachers, middle school and high school instructors, and university professors.

Statistics

• On average, Folklorama receives over 400,000 pavilion visits each year.^[6] The 2015 Festival received approximately 426,000 pavilion visits to 43 pavilions from August 2 to 15.^[7] The majority of those who attend the Festival visit more than one pavilion.
• About 21% of pavilion visitors come from outside of Winnipeg.^[6]
• Typically, more than 3,000 entertainers perform at more than 1,500 shows throughout the two-week Festival.^[6]
• On average, 600,000 meals are served and 1,000,000 beverages are poured before the conclusion of the Festival.^[6]
• Approximately 20,000 volunteers participate to make Folklorama possible.^[6]
• Folklorama has an economic impact of about $14.7 million on the Manitoba economy.^[6]

Pavilions

(From Past Years)

2015 Pavilions

2014 Pavilions

2013 Pavilions

2012 Pavilions

2011 Pavilions

2010 Pavilions

2009 Pavilions

References

External links

• Folklorama Official web site: http://www.folklorama.ca/