Village Squire, 1979-06, Page 22TRAVEL
Summer's
one long celebration
in the West
by
DALE CALLINGHAM
Celebrating, in Canada's western
provinces, is almost a way of life. They'll
use any excuse --a new season, our past
heritage, a community anniversary or just
because they want to. All are valid reasons
for gathering the community together,
inviting visitors, and having a great time.
Canada's multicultural background is
the basis for many colorful celebrations.
One of the most unusual is British
Columbia's Folkfest, a province -wide party
dedicated to numerous national heritages --
Austrian, Greek, Italian, East Indian,
Scottish, Ukrainian, Chinese, Native
Peoples, Swedish and many more.
Events take place in communities across
the province from late June through early
July --folk dances, food booths, costumes
and handicrafts, fireworks, parades,
Canadian and international sports, and
concerts. Each area is responsible for its
own activities which ensures, not only
diversity, but that the ethnic groups most
prevalent in each region are well
represented.
Winnipeg's Folklorama (August 12-18),
is another festival representing numerous
nationalities. About 30 pavilions through-
out the city display as many cultural
backgrounds with gourmet food, tradition-
al music, and dazzling costumes, decorat-
ions and handicrafts.
Special buses transport visitors between
buildings so they can calypso to a„
Caribbean beat one hour and dance an
Irish jig the next, sample Indian curry in
the morning, sip German beer in the
afternoon and sing along in a British pub in
the evening. It's fun, educational and
memorable.
Other ethnic festivals in Manitoba are
the National Ukrainian Festival (August
2-5) in Dauphin; Icelandic Festival (August
4-6) in Gimli; and the Highland Gathering
(July 8) in Selkirk.
Saskatchewan celebrates its multicultur-
al heritage with such festivals as Bavarian
Days in Bigger (June 8-10); Babushka Folk
Festival in Raiford (late June/early July);
various Oktoberfests in a number of
communities through September and
October; and Folklorama in Estevan in late
September.
Alberta also has ethnic festivals such as
the International Folk Festival (June
24 -July 1) in Red Deer, but this is a
province more noted for its rodeos and
other uniquely North American events.
COWBOY COUNTRY
No less than 34 rodeos take place
throughout Alberta between June 1 and
August 31, each one representing the
grand, galloping excitement of the west.
The most famous is the Calgary Exhibition
and Stampede (July 6-15), 10 days of
happy, rowdy fun typifying the image of
the cowboy. There are bands. floats,
cowboys, Indians, championship rodeos,
romping rides, chuckwagon races (a
definite highlight), flapjacks, fireworks,
street dances and entertainment.
Rodeos are also a way of life in
Saskatchewan where about 20 stampedes
of various sizes take place during summer
months. One of the largest is Regina's
Buffalo Days where North America's top
rodeo cowboys compete in chuckwagon
races, saddle bronc and brahma bull
riding, calf roping and steer wrestling,
every afternoon between July 30 and
August 6. Gambling casinos, grandstand
shows, commercial exhibits, a midway,
local talent, livestock and fashion shows,
dancing girls and parades complete the
picture.
Williams Lake, at the heart of the
Cariboo, is British Columbia's cowboy
capital. As the province's biggest
cattle -shipping centre, it's only natural
that Williams Lake also be the site of a
major rodeo (June 30 -July 3). Most of the
bronc busters. steer wrestlers, calf ropers,
wild cow milkers and wild horse racers are
from the vast ranches of the Cariboo and
Chilcotin regions of British Columbia.
LOOKING BACK
Many of western Canada's fairs and
festivals offer a nostalgic look at Canada's
past. The Gold Rush of 1898, when
thousands flocked through Edmonton to
the Yukon, was one of the country's most
exciting events, so it's fitting that
Edmonton's Klondike Days celebrations.
which relive this era. be spectacular.
Activities start July 18 with a giant
Klondike breakfast and keep hopping to
the July 22 climax, the Sourdough Raft
Race and the Sunday Promenade. The
Klondike Days Exposition continues at
Northlands Park until July 28.
This year promises to be a special one as
the Edmonton Exhibition Association
marks its 100th anniversary, and the City
of Edmonton, its 75th.
British Columbia's logger days celebra-
tions relive the days when lumbering was
one man and his axe against the forest's
giants. Clad in traditional bright flannel
shirts, and caulk boots, men pit their
strength and skill against trees and each
DARLING STudio
ART GALLERY
& CRAFT SHOP
For portraits, landscapes, etc.
Oils, Acrylics, Pastels,
Watercolours, Ink Sketches.
WROXETER
]1 block west of main intersection]
HOURS:
Tues. -Sat. 1 p.m. -8 p.m.
Other times by chance or appointment.
Phone 335-6362
20 Village Squire, June 1979