FOLKLORE FESTIVAL 2009 PRESS RELEASE

Folklore Festival 2009 Draws Record Crowds!

Folklore Festival 2009, once again, brought large and enthusiastic crowds of Festival visitors to this 36th amazing Canadian multicultural celebration. Over 13,000 people came out to "Travel the World" right here in Thunder Bay.

The Festival featured an outstanding local showcase of performers that thrilled Festival visitors including the return of the Pelmanni orchestra, the Pipes and Drums of Thunder Bay and two performances by Angus Jourdain, the Native Communications Award winner who recently was signed to a contract in Nashville. From the flying Zorya dancers to the traditional Filipino Tinikling dance, Folklore celebrated the beauty of the many cultures of Canada with two jam-packed days of incredible international entertainment. Saturday evening had the audience Jammin' to the HOT Reggae sounds of Feature Entertainers, ROCKSTEADY.

From the Aboriginal Encampment and the Japanese Children's Day crafts in the very popular Children's Area, to the superb artists and exhibits including African and Ecuadorian crafts on site, Folklore enchanted visitors of all ages.

Tantalizing international foods always a crowd favourite, saw the new Egyptian Food Booth and many others sell out on the final day of Folklore. The temptations of authentic Caribbean jerk chicken, Portuguese elephant ears, pickerel and bannock, Indian curries and Italian delights, to name a few, kept the Food Court hopping all weekend long.

The winner of the WESTJET Trip for 2 Raffle was Tammy Cook of Thunder Bay.

A big thank you to all the visitors, sponsors, the local media for their support, entertainers, Food Booth groups, exhibitors, artists, ambassadors, the Folklore Festival Committee and our wonderful volunteers who helped to make Folklore Festival 2009 a tremendous success. Enjoy the next Folklore Festival May 1-2, 2010.