Saskatoon Folkfest has announced that 17 pavilions will collectively showcase the diversity within our community on Aug. 17-19. Folkfest 2023 will immerse festival patrons in multiculturalism through dynamic local performances, displays, activities, and incredible flavours while they discover and explore the traditions and history that make Saskatoon a vibrant and welcoming city. Folkfest is delighted to welcome the Iranian community as a new Pavilion, along with the Bangladesh, Cameroon, Chinese, Francophone, German, India, Indian & Métis, Irish, Japan, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Scottish, Sri Lanka, Ukrainian Karpaty and Vietnamese Pavilions. With seven sites, including two collaborative multi-Pavilion venues, patrons can anticipate another remarkable festival experience. “Folkfest goes well beyond the three-day celebration.” Kishore Gali, President, Folkfest Board of Directors, said in a news release. “Culture connects our community in a myriad of ways. Through supporting Folkfest, you ensure that local ethnocultural groups have the resources and capacity to provide vital year-round programs and services that strengthen the cultural fabric of Saskatoon and surrounding area.”

Travelling the globe without leaving the city creates the incomparable festival atmosphere that Folkfest is renowned for. With its Folkfest ePassport, patrons will continue to enjoy unlimited admission and free bus transportation to and from all Pavilions during the three-day festival. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Online sales will start in mid-July, ePassports are $16.50 (taxes and fees included.)

The hospitality and dedication of Folkfest Volunteers is unsurpassed as they passionately share the distinct heritage, traditions, artistic and culinary expressions of their culture with the broader community. The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Felicitas (Fay) Santos-Vargas has been selected as the Honourary Ambassador for the 44th festival. Fay embodies the spirit of Folkfest, having been an active and valuable volunteer for more than 40 years. She consistently demonstrates an exceptional ability to connect with people from varied cultures and backgrounds, exemplifying this year’s festival theme of Connecting Communities. Her inspirational passion for promoting cultural awareness and preserving Filipino heritage positively influences the next generation of cultural leaders and serves to ensure the sustainability of Folkfest. Folkfest’s pavilion-based, multicultural festival annually engages tens of thousands of patrons and volunteers to celebrate and showcase local cultural arts, cuisine, traditions and history; reflecting the best of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our community.

Saskatoon Folkfest is committed to producing an annual multicultural festival that strengthens community ties. The festival is made possible each year by the dedication of hundreds of volunteers from numerous ethnocultural communities who demonstrate exemplary commitment to enhancing the quality of life in their community. With a combined history of over 50 pavilions, 100,000 volunteers, and one million passports, Folkfest is proud to have been a part of the community for decades. For more information visit, saskatoonfolkfest.com or follow @stoonfolkfest on social media.