Heritage Festival is back this August long weekend. Here's what to expect and the best way to get there.
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The festival will be held from Aug. 2-4 at Edmonton Exhibition Lands and Borden Park for the third and final year, set to return next year to Hawrelak Park, which is currently under construction.
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Rob Rohatyn, executive director of the Edmonton Heritage Festival Association (EHFA), said the organization knew the transition would be temporary and said they are ready to return to the festival's home next year.
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'We've been able to collaborate with many groups to make this happen…(There's been) a lot of good feedback in terms of the space, certainly some challenges, but that comes with any space, but we're looking forward to going back.'
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This year, there will be 67 pavilions at the Heritage Festiva,l with each offering a slice of their home for attendees to experience.
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Rohatyn said Senegal and Somalia will be brand new this year, both under the newcomers pavilion, which was introduced in 2024 to give new groups the opportunity to participate in the festival.
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Returning groups that have been on hiatus for a few years, but are now back include Japan, Portugal and Liberia.
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In 2024, a devastating storm on the Sunday of the festival, forced organizers to make the call to shutdown the final day. The storm inflicted major infrastructure and electrical damage to several pavilions.
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But despite the unexpected end to the 2024 festival, Rohatyn said it shows how resilient the pavilion groups are and the majority of them are back from last year.
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'There were a few (groups) that did have to step away, and they were very transparent and said (they) struggled and are going to need some time to recover, but hope to come back in the future,' Rohatyn said.
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Edmonton and most of northern and central Alberta are under a heat warning from Environment Canada.
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Friday temperatures are expected to be a high of 32 C and are expected to exceed 30 C on Saturday until a predicted break on Sunday.
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CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
Heritage Festival wraps up ‘phenomenal' weekend
The final attendance numbers aren't in quite yet, but executive director Rob Rohatyn said this year's Edmonton Heritage Festival has been going 'really, really well.' With three pavilions making a return from hiatus, reasonable weather and large crowds on a long weekend, Rohatyn said he's been grateful to see 'that community support for our festival.' 'It's been really exciting to celebrate multiculturalism with Edmonton this weekend,' he said. This was the last year the festival took place at Borden Park. It will return to its original home, Hawrelak Park, in 2026. 'It's been a great three years in this temporary space, but we're looking forward to returning,' Rohatyn said. This year saw 67 pavilions, each representing a different country. Japan, Portugal and Liberia returned after a brief time away from the festivities. Newcomers included Senegal and Somalia. On Sunday, officials went around handing awards to countries with the best food, drink and more. A full list of award winners can be found on their Instagram. 'What makes a good pavilion is multiple components,' Rohatyn said. 'We really want to create an environment where our pavilions can engage with our attendees and educate about their culture.' The main components to a country's pavilion are food, entertainment, cultural display and art. Alex Amaglo was with Togo's pavilion, which won first place in 'best main' for their plantain and beef skewer. 'Everybody was happy, it was really nice … it was so beautiful,' Amaglo said. He added that he enjoys the Heritage Festival because, despite the rain, people still attend. Gloria Caceres, from El Salvador, was touring all the food she could. She said she loves the festival because 'it's like travelling one day around the world.' Carolina Ford-Conde visited the festival two days in a row with her kids. 'I think we're very lucky to have so many cultures in Canada, and I want them to be exposed to different cultures,' she said. Rohatyn said he feels that attendees all agree that the festival is important, based on the 'strong crowds' on Sunday. 'We're really excited about the cultural groups that support our festival and believe in our mission,' he said
Edmonton Journal
01-08-2025
- Edmonton Journal
Heritage Festival is back this August long weekend. Here's what to expect and the best way to get there.
Edmonton's beloved three-day multicultural festival is gearing up to welcome visitors this August long weekend, and amid the very hot forecast, attendees can expect the return of some beloved pavilions that've been on hiatus, performances and plenty of food. Article content The festival will be held from Aug. 2-4 at Edmonton Exhibition Lands and Borden Park for the third and final year, set to return next year to Hawrelak Park, which is currently under construction. Article content Article content Article content Rob Rohatyn, executive director of the Edmonton Heritage Festival Association (EHFA), said the organization knew the transition would be temporary and said they are ready to return to the festival's home next year. Article content Article content 'We've been able to collaborate with many groups to make this happen…(There's been) a lot of good feedback in terms of the space, certainly some challenges, but that comes with any space, but we're looking forward to going back.' Article content This year, there will be 67 pavilions at the Heritage Festiva,l with each offering a slice of their home for attendees to experience. Article content Rohatyn said Senegal and Somalia will be brand new this year, both under the newcomers pavilion, which was introduced in 2024 to give new groups the opportunity to participate in the festival. Article content Article content Returning groups that have been on hiatus for a few years, but are now back include Japan, Portugal and Liberia. Article content Article content In 2024, a devastating storm on the Sunday of the festival, forced organizers to make the call to shutdown the final day. The storm inflicted major infrastructure and electrical damage to several pavilions. Article content But despite the unexpected end to the 2024 festival, Rohatyn said it shows how resilient the pavilion groups are and the majority of them are back from last year. Article content 'There were a few (groups) that did have to step away, and they were very transparent and said (they) struggled and are going to need some time to recover, but hope to come back in the future,' Rohatyn said. Article content Edmonton and most of northern and central Alberta are under a heat warning from Environment Canada. Article content Friday temperatures are expected to be a high of 32 C and are expected to exceed 30 C on Saturday until a predicted break on Sunday.
Winnipeg Free Press
01-08-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Free Press Head Start for Aug. 1, 2025
An air quality warning remains in effect for Winnipeg. Environment Canada forecasts the air quality at 10+, or very high risk. Widespread smoke with a high of 27 C. The UV index is 7 or high. What's happening today 🏀 The Winnipeg Sea Bears host the Saskatchewan Rattlers at 7:30 p.m. at Canada Life Centre. 🏈 The Winnipeg Blue Bombers play the Toronto Argonauts at 7:30 p.m. at Princess Auto Stadium. 🍿 Assiniboine Park's Lyric Theatre will screen The Lion King followed by Mufasa. Showtimes for the free event are 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. 🌊 The 136th annual celebration for the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba, also known as Islendingadagurinn, takes place in Gimli this weekend with a four-day schedule featuring food, drink, music, art, special guests and various entertainment at venues throughout the lakeside community. For a complete list of events and for more information see Today's must-read At age 41, Gene Malcom doesn't take freedom for granted — not after spending more than four years collectively in solitary confinement. Beginning when he was 14 at the Manitoba Youth Centre and continuing over the next 23 years at various provincial correctional facilities, Malcom has tallied a total of 1,600 days in segregation. The longest stretch lasted 159 consecutive days. Today, he says he sometimes opens and closes his home's front door just to remind himself what it's like to be free. Widespread use of solitary confinement in Manitoba correctional facilities is the subject of a class-action lawsuit that is scheduled to go to trial in November. Matthew Frank has the story. A segregation cell at the Manitoba Youth Centre. (Supplied) On the bright side Canadians are staying home in droves this summer. According to a June Leger poll, 77 per cent of travellers are heading east, west and north across the country, but definitely not south. Only 10 per cent plan to travel to the U.S. With that in mind, Free Press writers and editors reflect on some of their favourite Canadian haunts, destinations and memories from years gone by. Read more. A view from the canoe on the South Saskatchewan River. (Russell Wangersky / Free Press) On this date On Aug. 1, 1961: The Winnipeg Free Press reported the city might get a new early-closing bylaw that could see the rules dealing with closing hours thrown out, or a revised version of the existing bylaw that would allow late opening one night per week instead of Friday and Saturday. Amid the Berlin Crisis, United States secretary of defence Robert McNamara said nuclear bombs would be used if necessary to respond to 'Soviet aggression.' The six nations of the European Common Market agreed to open negotiations with the United Kingdom's government for Britain's entry into the economic community. Read the rest of this day's paper here. Search our archives for more here. Today's front page Get the full story: Read today's e-edition of the Free Press .
