Coming to Canada: Edmonton Heritage Festival Review

I went to the Edmonton Heritage Festival this weekend. Here are some observations on the festival:

-Before going I was speaking about the festival very excitedly to some friends, family and coworkers. I was surprised to hear from them that they have never been to this beloved Edmonton Festival even if they have lived in the city for decades. So for any of you Edmontonians out there who have yet to go, I highly encourage you to check it out next year. There really is something for everyone there from entertainment to food and crafts.

-It was hot out! Whew! At nearly 30 degrees Celsius and high humidity, you would be hard-pressed to believe that this is a city that sits at minus -20 Celsius for a good portion of the winter. Also, my sympathies to those dancers in traditional clothing from cold nations. I can’t imagine dancing in a full Norwegian outfit in that heat, but they did an amazing job nonetheless!

-The festival can be a bit overwhelming, but in an entirely good way. All of the smells (from various tantalizing cuisines), sounds and colorful clothing collided into something that left our group feeling a bit dazed, as usual. However, I think there is something to be said for this overwhelming sensation. I think the barrage of sights, sounds, and smells from all of the heritages present represents in a very visceral manner how Canadian culture is a composite of many others. From all the smells wafting together is born that unique Canadian perfume. It captures the way that our cities smell as you move through them, passing fish and chips stands, open air markets, bakeries, tea houses, coffee shops, curry joints, meats roasting on spits etc. From all of the sights and colors of clothing and people you get the colors of Canada in all of its seasons; the bright hues of summer, the rich tones of autumn, the crisp white and blue of winter, and the soft pastels of spring. And from the many sounds of music and the plethora of languages spoken, you will hear the coming together of the true Canadian voice which is so much stronger united than the sum of its parts.

-The food, of course, was delicious! I wish I could have eaten it all! I tried in no particular order: Kenyan chicken skewers, fresh young coconut juice, green onion cakes, Bangladesh’s mango on a stick, Egypt’s falafel, Irish potato cakes, German bratwurst on a bun, Welsh cakes, Bosnia-Herzegovina’s burek, and England’s sausage rolls and Cornish pasties with HP sauce. (PS if anyone from the Dutch Pavilion is reading this, I would LOVE it if you offered stroppwafels at your tent next year. Please?)