Kalamazoo may be south of the Canadian border, but later this month the city will be bursting with poutine, maple syrup and all things Canadian.
That Canadian Festival will return to Arcadia Creek Festival Place from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, September 21 for its second year celebrating Canadian culture and the Indigenous, French and English components that created it.
Channon Russette-Mondoux, originally from Canada but living in Kalamazoo for about 20 years, Dreaming of Canadiana Fest during the coronavirus pandemicwhen he was unable to return to his home country for nearly three years. Instead, he created Canadiana Fest to bring the country to him and everyone who loves Canada.
After a successful inaugural festival in 2023, here’s what to expect at Canadiana Fest this year.
Things to do
- Rick Green, from the classic Canadian television show “The Red Green Show,” will appear with photo and autograph opportunities at the Red Green Possum Lodge.
- Dress up as a famous Canadian character, Canada or your interpretation of “Captain Canada” for The Great Canadian Cosplay ContestThe top three winners of the cosplay contest will receive prizes.
- Discover artisanal and handcrafted products at Vendor Village. View Vendor List Here.
- Stop by the Sports Centre for a game of curling, lacrosse, hockey or basketball.
- Enjoy chainsaw art demonstrations at Lumberjack Village at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Play a game of logs at Lumberjack Village anytime from 2:30 p.m. to sunset.
- Take your kids to the Children’s Cultural Centre to make crafts, paint faces, learn about French and English Canadian heritage, and listen to children’s books read in a variety of languages spoken in Canada.
- Professional and home bakers can enter the Butter Tart Contest by bringing a dozen of their butter tarts to be judged by a panel of bakers, Canadians and butter tart enthusiasts. Participants must submit their entries to the judging booth by 1 p.m. and winners will be announced at 6:45 p.m. Participants must register before the party.
- Help choose the best poutine at Canadiana Fest in the poutine contest. Poutine samples will be available at five locations – Nisker’s Char Grill, Best Coast Provisions, The Canuck Canteen, Millennium Restaurant Group and Grand River Brewery – for $6 each, or you can purchase a Poutine Passport containing all five samples for $25. Try different types of poutine and then choose your favourite poutine using the QR code. Winners will be announced at 6:45 p.m.
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Entertainment
- 1:15-2:00 p.m.: The parade opening ceremony led by the Kalamazoo Pipe Band begins, then Southern Straight, a group of more than 20 Potawatomi, Ojibwe, Odawa and Chippewa drummers and singers, leads a dance around the community.
- 2:00 p.m.: Actor Rick Green will host a Q&A with Ava Green, editor-in-chief of “The Red Green Show,” on the main stage.
- 2:30-3:30 p.m.: Andrew Rathburn Jazz Quartet performs on the main stage.
- 3:30-4:15 p.m.: Kalamazoo Pipe Band, a bagpipe group, performs on the main stage with the Scottish Country Dancers.
- 4:15-4:45 p.m.: The Canadian Cosplay Competition takes place on the main stage.
- 5:00-6:30 p.m.: Skye Consort and Emma Björling, a Canadian trad/folk group, perform on the main stage.
- 7:00-8:30 p.m.: Rock Rx, a Kalamazoo-area rock cover band, performs on the main stage with ASL interpretation.
- 9:00-9:30 p.m.: Julius “The Genius” Fisher, an African-American musician from Nashville, performs on the main stage with ASL interpretation.
- 9:30 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.: Crystal Shawanda, an Indigenous blues artist from Northern Ontario, performs on the main stage with an ASL interpretation.
- 10:45 p.m.: The festival ends with the community singing of “O’Canada.”
Food and drink
Canuck Canteen, run by Mondoux, who is also a chef, will serve traditional Canadian dishes such as poutine, bacon and pea sandwiches, butter tarts and ketchup chips. Proceeds from Canuck Canteen will benefit the VFW Red Arrow Post 1527.
The following local and regional food vendors will also be serving their takes on Canadian cuisine:
The Beer and Beverage Garden will feature a variety of craft and imported beers, including Final gravity Double Double Fat and Outré Brewery Newfound Brown and wine.
Again:Kalamazoo, one of three Michigan cities ranked among Money’s 50 best places to live in the U.S.
Tickets
Tickets are $15 for adults 21 and older, $10 for seniors and veterans, and $5 for ages 13 to 20. Children 12 and under are free. VIP tickets, which include access to exclusive food and beverage tastings and in-person opportunities, are $100. Tickets can be purchased Here.
In true Canadian spirit, a portion of the proceeds from Canadiana Fest will be donated to local non-profit organizations fighting hunger and food insecurity.
For more information, visit festivalcanadien.fun.
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