Music festival brings fusions of culture and genres to Waterloo Park
Music from all over the world landed right in Waterloo Park this weekend.
The 17th annual Kultrun World Music Festival brings artists from all over the world to the city, displaying songs and performances from multiple cultures.
'International bands have come from South Korea, from Colombia, from Chile [and more],' said Isabel Cisterna, the artistic director. 'All these bands that are international come all the way from there.'
The festival was created by Neruda Arts, a not-for-profit world music presenter with a focus on sharing international music.
The event also had different activities and workshops, which allowed attendees to learn more about cultural music, instruments and dance.
'We bring the world to Waterloo Region but at the same time, we basically teach people around the world what the context of Canadian art is when you mix different communities together and we collaborate,' said Cisterna.
Cisterna said sharing culture and bringing the world to local communities is important to become more open-minded and experience new cultures.
'I think often we follow this kind of trap of ideas, thinking that we know when we don't because each country has so many cultural traditions. There's so many different styles of genres of music,' said Cisterna. 'For example, when you have a South Korean band that comes to our festival that actually plays reggae and funk with hints of their traditional music, it really makes us think about 'what do we know?''
Alisa Tracey, a local in the area, said she hadn't heard of the festival prior to Friday's opening.
'I actually found it by accident,' said Tracey. 'I was just taking a walk in Waterloo Park, and then I saw the sign, and then I'm like 'let's go.' I came here last night. I saw a bunch of bands, people were dancing and having fun. It was lively.'
Tracey said she enjoyed the food, vendors and live music on Friday and decided to come back on Saturday.
'Even if you feel shy, just come outside of your comfort zone. I came by myself and I met a bunch of people and I've seen people I've [met] before. So, just come out,' said Tracey.
The festival runs until Sunday July 13.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Gates open for Whoop-Up Days 2025
Following Tuesday's parade, many made their way to the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre to take in the Whoop-Up Days action. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Eager attendees were waiting outside the Whoop-Up Days gates before they opened at noon. After months of preparation, organizers were thrilled to see the first guests come through the gates. It makes all the hard work and long hours worth it. 'To be at the heart of a community event like this, it's just wonderful. I mean, everyone's happy, ready to ride rides, come to the family fun zone, get great food. It's just such a good time,' said Kaira Cale, Lethbridge and District Exhibition manager of event development. It was a quick turnaround for West Coast Amusements to get the midway ready in time. After a long drive from North Battleford, they had just two days to get the grounds ready. Despite the time crunch, everything was ready to go by the time guests made it to the midway. Eager attendees were waiting outside the Whoop-Up Days gates before they opened at noon. Eager attendees were waiting outside the Whoop-Up Days gates before they opened at noon. 'Two days is ideal. That way our guys don't have to work as hard, you know? And then everything gets cleaned. Then just a little bit more attention to detail. And the guys work really, really hard on inspecting and maintaining,' said Robert Hauser, West Coast Amusements president and CEO. There will be extra time to head to the grounds this year. The midway will be open for the first time on Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. for the Whoop-Up Wrap-Up with discounted $5 tickets. 'So far, we've heard great things. I think it's going to be a busy day. It's just an extra day for the families to come out, enjoy the midway, some extra food,' said Cale. Admission for Whoop-Up Days is free until 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Local powerhouse Vocalist performing this Saturday
Ottawa Watch Local power-house Vocalist Sherri Harding joins us to talk about her up-coming album and her performance at Red Bird Live.
CTV News
8 hours ago
- CTV News
Cote First Nation celebrates grand opening of new splash park
Cote First Nation celebrated the grand opening of a new splash park on Tuesday. (Fruzsina De Cloedt / CTV News) Cote First Nation celebrated the grand opening of a new splash park on Tuesday. 'You know I'm not going to be running through it,' Chief George Cote said during his speech at the event. While in fact Chief Cote did not run, he was drenched from head to toe when he stood under a giant bucket filled with water. As gallons of cold water poured on the crowd of screaming children, Chief Cote held his head high. After the initial shock, he did allow himself a smile. 'We never had this growing up, as young children and we want to give something to the youth that can fulfill their dreams in their life,' he said. 'Just to show them that we care for them.' Cote First Nation spray park Cote First Nation Chief George Cote is awaiting being drenched at the grand opening of the community's splash park on Tuesday. (Fruzsina De Cloedt / CTV News) The idea of having a splash park on Cote First Nation had been brewing for five years. 'The concept of the splash pad, the spray park, and this recreation site in general came from our comprehensive community plan,' Arlene Pinay, Cote First Nation's community development planner told CTV News. She said it was developed through surveys, interviews, one-on-one sessions and focus groups. The splash park is now busy with kids enjoying some refreshments under the August sun, but there's still work to do. 'Some of the things that are missing is actually some more stonework,' she said. 'We're actually hopefully going to be doing some landscaping here as well.' Cote First Nation built this new attraction partly from the federal government's Community Development Wrap-Around Initiative (CDWAI). 'There was only 22 nations from all of Canada that were selected to be part of this initiative, and Cote was one of them,' Pinay said in her speech during the grand opening ceremony. She added that they also used some of the other fundings related to family, wellness, and prevention. However, for the finishing yard work, they are still looking to secure some funding. 'It's been a lot of moving parts to get to where we are today,' she said. Cote First Nation has been busy with a variety of community-driven developments. 'Building a new rink, the new arbor, and fixing up the sports grounds, and the playground that's here, the grand opening of the spray park, and the walking pad we have,' Chief Cote listed the community's most recent achievements. 'It's all part of being... good health and prosperity for our community.' This week, the park will be open in the afternoon, but from next week, it should be making a splash all day long.
