THUNDER BAY – The popular Folklore Festival has fallen victim to COVID-19 for a second straight year.
Organizers of the event on Wednesday confirmed they’ve cancelled the 2021 event, which brings together the city’s different cultures to share in food, music and dance from around the world.
They cited safety of vendors, performers, volunteer and the public as the reasoning for the decision. Ontario is also currently under strict indoor gathering restrictions, which as it stands would have made it impossible to hold in person.
There will be another option, however.
“Folklore, had it been able to run, would have taken place on the May 1-2 Weekend and that is when our VIRTUAL Folklore Festival 2021 will run on our website www.folklorefestival.ca with a shorter version on Facebook, and we will continue to run it for several months for your enjoyment,” said Jeanetty Jumah, in an email release.
“We can all come together virtually and celebrate the rich diversity of Canada and take visitors on a trip around the world to experience the magnificent sights, sounds and flavours woven into the fabric of our country by our various ethno-cultural and Aboriginal communities.”
Jumah said she’s hopeful the traditional Folklore Festival, which is run by the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association and the Folklore Festival Organizing Committee, can return to Fort William Gardens in 2022.
