Winnipeg's Folklorama cultural festival is chockablock with cultural activities for kids
Strap on virtual-reality goggles and step into the 500-year-old Madurai Meenakshi Hindu temple, nestled in the heart of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, South India, at the Tamil pavilion.
Learn the art of lion dance, steeped in history dating back to China's Han Dynasty, from skilled performers weaving a story of good fortune and prosperity.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press
Mayor Scott Gillingham greets pavilion ambassadors at the official Folklorama kickoff Wednesday at the Leaf.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press
Mayor Scott Gillingham greets pavilion ambassadors at the official Folklorama kickoff Wednesday at the Leaf.
Week 1: August 3 – 9
British Isles
Chinese
Egyptian
Italian
Métis
Pabellon de Espana
Spirit of Ukraine
Week 2: August 10 – 16
Africa/Caribbean
Greek
Modern Chinese
Pearl of the Orient
Phillipine
Romanian
Ukraine Kyiv
Get your hair braided or twisted, Cuban style, design your own Egyptian Shabti, try to write your name in different scripts or learn simple phrases in different languages.
With a little bit of planning, you'll find there's more than enough to keep kids busy during the annual two-week cultural celebration.
At the Ukraine Kyiv pavilion, children can create a swallow — a symbol of Ukraine and hope. Each swallow will feature wings decorated with a vyshyvanka-style ornament representing traditional Ukrainian embroidery.
Once complete, the swallows will be hung from string to form a mobile called Nadiya (Hope) — reminding visitors that light and goodness always overcome darkness.
'This year's kids' activity area reflects a conscious and thoughtful approach to family engagement — combining creative exploration, cultural education and fun in a well-balanced and welcoming setting,' says pavilion co-ordinator Yury Kruk.
'It's an opportunity for young guests to connect with Ukrainian heritage in meaningful ways and for families to enjoy quality time together in a calmer, more intentional space.'
JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES
Performers at the Brazilian pavilion demonstrate their musical and physical skills at Folklorama 2024.
JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES
Performers at the Brazilian pavilion demonstrate their musical and physical skills at Folklorama 2024.
Now in its 54th year, the annual summer event — recognized as the world's largest and longest-running multicultural festival — runs from tomorrow to Aug. 16.
This year there are 43 pavilions at venues across the city, including two new spots: Modern Chinese and Mabuhay Phillipine.
'The Mabuhay pavilion showcases Luzon, the largest of the three main islands in the Philippines, while the Modern Chinese pavilion will introduce visitors to the global Chinese community in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan,' says Folklorama's executive director Teresa Cotroneo.
Visitors are advised to plan early and book ahead of time to not miss out — tickets for earlier performances sell fast so it's best to buy in advance.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press
Folklorama kicked off its 54th season at a launch party with all the pavilion ambassadors dressed in their cultural clothing at the Leaf on Wednesday.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press
Folklorama kicked off its 54th season at a launch party with all the pavilion ambassadors dressed in their cultural clothing at the Leaf on Wednesday.
'Get there early, get your food, enjoy the show and then take time to go through the display and the children's activities after the show so you can have an immersive experience,' advises Cotroneo.
Admission is free for children 12 and under, but they still need their own ticket.
For those who would rather not wait in line for their food, some pavilions are offering the option of booking dinner reservations.
Proceeds from each pavilion are channelled back into the community so the next generation can learn and carry on the traditions and customs that make up their culture.
Tickets to each pavilion are $7.50 plus fees at folklorama.ca.
av.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
Book early to secure showtimes — popular pavilions sell out ahead of time.
Plan your route — use the map on pages 28 and 29 of the Travel Guide to plan your night based on pavilions close to one another.
Save on bulk ticket purchases — buy the multipack of 10 tickets and save $10 compared to buying individual tickets.
Combo tickets — Want to check out the last show of the night and the late-night party? Opt for a combo ticket at the discounted price of $13.50. Pavilions with late-night parties are:
Week 1:
Caribbean
Chile Lindo
Mabuhay Philippine
Week 2:
Brazilian
Cuban
German
Scotland
Travel like a VIP – book a VIP Tour to skip the lines, enjoy a meal and take in a guided tour of the cultural display with your own private tour guide.
AV KitchingReporter
AV Kitching is an arts and life writer at the Free Press. She has been a journalist for more than two decades and has worked across three continents writing about people, travel, food, and fashion. Read more about AV.
Every piece of reporting AV produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Celebrating Ukrainian independence
Winnipeg POINT DOUGLASRIVERGROVE Ukrainian Independence Day is both a display of Ukrainian culture and a show of support for Ukraine as its war with Russia stretches into a fourth year. Organizer Maryka Chabluk extends an invitation for all to attend the celebrations at Access Centre (48 Holland Rd.) in West St. Paul on Sunday, Aug. 24 for a full day of food and entertainment. But get there early, Chabluk advised, as the first two events were filled to capacity. The free, family-friendly event opens at 1:30 p.m., with programs at 3 and 5 p.m. Prayers for Ukraine are scheduled for 2:30, and a flag unfurling at 4. A zabava, slated for 6:30, promises music, dancing, and sing-alongs. Please bring a chair or blanket and enjoy kids' activities, soccer, a bouncy castle, Ukrainian food, and 35 vendors, along with a beer garden. Supplied photo Ukrainian Independence Day will be celebrated at Access Centre (48 Holland Rd.) in West St. Paul on Sunday, Aug. 24 with a full day of food and entertainment. Chabluk said Independence Day was established in 1991 following the Soviet Union's dissolution, when 92.3 per cent voted for freedom. The agreement was signed on Aug. 24. 'We were very excited that Ukraine had the opportunity to govern itself and was no longer under the auspices of the USSR,' Chabluk said. 'We acknowledge that day and continue to hope that Ukraine maintains independence and has its own government.' Chabluk said Ukrainian newcomers' spirits are buoyed when they see they are part of a community dedicated to preserving Ukrainian culture. Independence Day celebrations help newcomers integrate into the Ukrainian-Canadian community. 'Craft vendors have become popular,' Chabluk said. 'They have become a lifeline and connection for people who sell these crafts in addition to their day jobs. Mriya, a newcomer youth choir, and Vodohrai, a newcomer adult choir, are also performing. 'It's a nice opportunity for them to continue in the talents they brought with them and to support each other.' The 4 p.m. flag unfurling promises to be a highlight. Chabluk has ordered a huge flag that the crowd will unfurl as they sing the Ukrainian national anthem, Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy i slava, i volia. An overhead drone will capture the moment. Supplied photo Ukrainian Independence Day will be celebrated at Access Centre (48 Holland Rd.) in West St. Paul on Sunday, Aug. 24 with a full day of food and entertainment. 'It's a very emotional opportunity to say we stand with Ukraine and are heartbroken with what exists there now,' Chabluk said. 'Prayer for Ukraine has also become an important part of this day. Peace is what everybody longs for.' As much as Chabluk and the organizing team give to Independence Day, they get plenty back. During the first celebrations, the groups sang Christmas carols, the same ones taught for generations. An already strong connection was further deepened. Mondays A weekly look at news and events that matter in your communities. 'Even though we were once thousands of miles apart, we can still share something special,' Chabluk said. Come for the food, entertainment and fellowship. Buy some traditional food to take home. While there's no charge, feel free to donate to defray costs. 'We're very thrilled to have everybody join us,' Chabluk said. 'We're doing our best to unite the Ukrainian people, whether they've been here three, four, or five years, or they've just arrived. Supplied photo Ukrainian Independence Day will be celebrated at Access Centre (48 Holland Rd.) in West St. Paul on Sunday, Aug. 24 with a full day of food and entertainment. 'We're united as one family.' Sponsorship opportunities are available. To learn more, contact the Ukrainian Canadian Congress at or 204-942-9348. Tony ZeruchaEast Kildonan community correspondent Tony Zerucha is a community correspondent for East Kildonan. Email him at tzerucha@ Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CTV News
19 hours ago
- CTV News
Spanish culture celebrated at Folklorama
Winnipeg Watch CTV's Jon Hendricks is live at the Spanish pavilion for Folklorama, and shares what attendees can experience.
2 days ago
Obsessed with Labubus? Why you may want to rethink this unboxing trend
They're a little cute, a little scary — and very, very trendy. Labubu dolls are one of the latest must-have items being driven by social media posts of people unboxing them. The little elf-like toy monsters were created by Japanese artist Kasing Lung and they come in boxes, so people can't tell which one they're getting when they buy them. Videos of people unboxing Labubu dolls are popular on TikTok, with people screaming happily when they get a Labubu they want, or in tears when it's one they don't want. The Chinese toy maker behind Labubus, Pop Mart, is forecasting a 350 per cent profit jump for the first half of 2025 as global demand for the wildly popular Labubu characters surges. Allie Luk of Ajisen Ramen understands the power of Labubu. The Waterloo, Ont., restaurant is running a promotion where they're giving away a doll each month. The reaction's definitely been through the roof, Luk says of the Labubu doll giveaway. We've been getting thousands and thousands of comments and tags online. We have people tagging up to even like 20 or 30 friends and families for extra entries to win. It's an obvious win for the restaurant because people are also sharing photos and videos of their food, Luk says, which is creating a lot of buzz. While it was younger customers who understood the first giveaway, as they prepare for a second Labubu doll winner, Luk says they're seeing people of all ages taking part. Enlarge image (new window) This photo of a Labubu doll and a bowl of ramen from Ajisen Ramen in Waterloo, Ont., is part of an online campaign by the restaurant which a spokesperson says has been very popular. Photo: Allie Luk/Ajisen Ramen We saw this as like a really unique opportunity to be able to connect sort of with our all of our guests simultaneously across all the age groups. And it's really fun because we saw that we would be able to connect with our customers in the way that sort of goes beyond food and ramen, Luk said. Unboxing excitement similar to gambling: Expert Celebrities Rihanna, Dua Lipa and Kim Kardashian have been spotted with Labubus, sometimes as an accessory on their bags. WATCH | Labubu maker Pop Mart forecasting a 350% profit surge : But while Labubus are the current must-have toy, some are worried about the waste they're creating — especially when some TikTok videos show people destroying or throwing out Labubus they don't want. Jing Wan, a marketing and consumer studies professor at the University of Guelph, compared the excitement of unboxing a Labubu to gambling. You get that anticipation, hope, all wrapped up together when you're about to unbox and find out which exact model that you've pulled and you get to see whether it's maybe one of the models that you were looking for to complete your collection or maybe it's a rare version, she said. There are actually rare Labubu dolls out there as well that are worth quite a bit of money. And so if... you think you're getting one of those, you can be quite excited. This can lead to overconsumption, Wan said. People will buy Labubus just for the rush, but they may not even want the doll they get. Normally when we buy products, we're spending money on a specific thing that we want, Wan said. With blind boxes, you are voluntarily spending money on things that you probably don't actually want. And so you're now buying a lot of things just simply in the hopes of getting that one thing. LISTEN | U of Guelph professor says Labubu doll excitement can lead to overconsumption, environmental concerns (new window) 'Creating a lot of waste' Then, there's the environmental impact of these kinds of unboxing trends. That's creating a lot of waste, Wan said. These dolls are made out of plastics. There's also opaque packaging that typically goes around the dolls so that even when you open the paper box, you don't know what's inside it. You can't see it. That's part of the blind box rush, she added. That's a lot of plastic to be produced by these sorts of products where some people are actively disposing of them because they don't want them. CBC K-W reached out to Pop Mart for comment about concerns around Labubus waste but did not hear back. WATCH | Why are people so obsessed with Labubu? : Trends can be 'risky business' for toy stores Philip Sullivan is sales associate at Hobby and Toy Central, an independent toy store in Kitchener. He says they don't have any plans to sell Labubu dolls for a very specific reason: trends die quickly. He says he's seen the blind box or blind bag trend with various items over the past five years, including with Lego mini figures, Playmobile characters and Hot Wheels cars. Enlarge image (new window) Philip Sullivan has been working at Hobby and Toy Central for 20 years. Photo: Hobby and Toy Central There's always been what the industry calls chasers, where it's a one out of 500 chance of getting the one that has white wheels and collectors go crazy over that kind of thing, he said. On the blind bags alone … we're selling a $20 item, we want to make sure that it's something that has some staying power. He added it's risky business to try to get in on a trend. We've certainly been burned on the fads where if you're not in on the ground floor, you might be sitting on the stuff forever, Sullivan said. Sullivan remembers Webkinz from the early 2000s, little plush characters which also had a digital equivalent and video game you could play. The initial launch was very local and the toys were sold through independent toy stores. Over the course of probably a year... they blew up and that exclusivity disappeared. And all of a sudden you were finding them at all the flea markets, you were finding them a drug stores, he said. If you didn't get out [of selling them] then, then you would have been the last person on the street still trying to sell these things. WATCH | Want to know the real price of a Labubu? : Wan says it can be really easy to get up in the got-to-have-it trends of the day, but she has advice for people who can feel the excitement rising over a blind box reveal. A lot of this is probably driven by emotions, that sense of excitement, anticipation. So I think I would like people to maybe just pause for a moment before they buy and ask themselves, what are you doing? Why are you buying this? Do you really want this? she said. Let yourself think through that purchase and I also want people to maybe keep in mind as well that every trend has a shelf life. So Labubus won't be the hottest thing forever and with social media, every trend is going by faster and faster so there will be a next Labubu coming up pretty soon I'm sure. With files from Aastha Shetty
