The Prince Albert Exhibition Centre was filled with cultural performances, food and vendors Saturday as Tapestrama returned to one of its original homes for a two-day festival continuing Sunday.
The festival brought together performers and community members from different cultural backgrounds, with salsa dancing, Filipino bamboo dancing and children’s performances among the activities taking place throughout the event.
Audience members clapped along as performers took the stage, while cultural food and vendor stalls were set up throughout the building.
Prince Albert Multicultural Council executive director Michelle Hassler said organizers were pleased with the response on the first day.
“We are very, very happy with the turnout of the first day,” Hassler said. “We are so happy to see everyone from the performers to our guests to our vendors to our volunteers and to the community.”
Hassler said returning to the Exhibition Centre was particularly meaningful for organizers.
“This year’s festival is very special, as we are coming back to Prince Albert Exhibition Centre,” she said. “Fifty years ago, Tapestrama Cultural Festival started here at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre, and so now we’re going full circle back to its roots.”
She said the festival has grown over the years, with more performers taking part.
“It’s so nice to be back home,” Hassler said.
Saturday’s performances included the Iron Swing Singers and Drum Group, the Chinese Dance School of Saskatchewan, Kumintang Filipino folk dance and Saskatoon Salsa.
Other performers scheduled during the weekend included Northern Prairie dancers, African performers, Sask Peru and Indonesian dancers travelling from Ontario.
The PAMC Youth Council also organized traditional games for children from different countries.
Hassler said involving young people is an important part of the festival because it helps families continue their cultural traditions.
“It is so important to have that cultural continuity, that we will be able to continue our culture with our young ones, like our children, to not lose that culture,” she said.
She said Tapestrama also gives people the chance to learn about cultures other than their own.
“Although we came from different countries, to be honest, we do have similarities and commonalities that we can learn from each other,” Hassler said.
Hassler said she was also pleased to see young performers and families attending the festival.
She said months of preparation go into organizing Tapestrama each year, with support from funders and sponsors playing an important role.
“It takes months and months of preparation,” Hassler said. “We cannot make it without them, but it has been challenging the last few years.”
Despite those challenges, Hassler said holding the festival each year is an accomplishment of its own.
“For me, honestly, every year that we do Tapestrama Cultural Festival is always a success, no matter what,” she said.
arjun.pillai@paherald.sk.ca
