Thousands of people passed through the grounds of Whittier Park to celebrate the long weekend and the start of the Festival du Voyageur.
With live performances by local musicians and dazzling artistic performances, festival organizers say there is something for people of all ages.
“Everyone is excited to be outside spending time together,” said Brienne Lavallee Heckert, executive director of Festival du Voyageur. “Being around the music and food culture is a really great atmosphere here.”
The festival also gives community members an opportunity to immerse themselves in Francophone culture, Lavallee Heckert said.
“There are so many different cultural components at play here at the festival, and it is so beautiful to experience them all together,” she said.
With unusually mild temperatures this year and little snowfall, organizers say they have had to modify some traditional activities and attractions.
“Normally we have ice structures that kids can climb through tunnels, all kinds of different things. But this year, one of our artists created these giant woven baskets out of harvested willow and dogwood and created these really amazing structures,” Lavallee Heckert said.
As part of Louis Riel Day on Monday, the Festival du Voyageur encourages families to get out and celebrate Métis and Indigenous culture with artists performing throughout the festival grounds.
Tickets can be purchased through the event website.
