Moose Jaw’s Motif Multicultural Festival returns to the community this weekend and will showcase the food, entertainment and art of the many cultures that call this place home.
The festival takes place in Happy Valley Park beginning on Friday, July 12 and ending on Sunday, July 14. In that time, more than a dozen cultural organizations will take to the stage to entertain and amaze residents young and old.
A three-day festival pass costs $12, while it costs $8 for a single-day pass. Parking is $5 for three days or $2 for one day.
Festival organizers cancelled last year’s 44th annual festival due to economic and administrative reasons.
Friday
Motif kicks off at 3 p.m. on July 12 with the welcome message. Taste of Lebanon then hits the stage at 3:15 p.m. This is followed by performers from Latin American at 3:30 p.m.; Malaysia at 4 p.m.; Usha’s Tour of India at 4:20 p.m.; the Wakamow Aboriginal Community at 4:45 p.m.; the Filipino Community at 5:05 p.m.; Mauritius at 5:25 p.m.; the Chinese Association with a dance at 5:45 p.m.; followed by dinner at 6 p.m.
The official opening ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. and run until 7 p.m. The Chinese Association then returns to the stage for a song; the Filipino Community returns at 7:25 p.m.; the Chinese Association comes back for another act at 7:50 p.m.; and then Andino Suns closes out the day at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
The Motif Multicultural Festival organizing committee will provide a short welcome at 1 p.m. on July 13 before the entertainment launches for a second day. The City of Regina Pipe Band leads things off with a performance at 1:10 p.m.; the Legacia Dancers follow at 1:45 p.m.; violinist Nadia Babchouk performs at 2:10 p.m.; the Chinese Association follows up with a song at 2:35 p.m.; the Legacia Dancers perform at 2:50 p.m.; and the Wakamow Aboriginal Community performs at 3:10 p.m.
The Chinese Association reappears for a dance and performance at 3:30 p.m.; Ya La Habibi follows up at 4:10 p.m.; the Legacia Dancers next appear at 4:50 p.m.; Nadia Babchouk performs for a second time at 5:10 p.m.; the Filipino community hits the stage at 5:35 p.m.; Blakey Irish Dancers perform at 6:05 p.m.; the Wakamow Aboriginal Community performs a round dance at 6:40 p.m.; the Jamaican Association dance group hits the stage at 7 p.m.; Maria from Mexico performs at 7:50 p.m.; and Davy Sage closes out the night at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday
The last day of the festival starts at 1 p.m. with a brief welcome introduction, followed by the Wakamow Aboriginal Community leading things off with a performance at 1:05 p.m.; the Chinese Association follows at 1:20 p.m.; the K.G. Harmonie German Dancers make their first appearance of the day at 1:50 p.m.; Mauritius performs at 2:25 p.m.; and Malaysia follows at 3 p.m.
The Prairie Gael Irish Dancers hit the stage at 3:20 p.m.; the Wakamow Aboriginal Community leads a round dance at 3:55 p.m.; Usha’s Tour of India performs at 4:10 p.m.; the Filipino Community follows with entertainment at 4:35 p.m.; a Latin American group performs at 5 p.m.; the K.G. Harmonie German Dancers make one final appearance at 5:15 p.m.; and Desperate for Haggis is the final act of the evening.
The closing ceremonies close out the night.
Of course, there will also be a wide variety of food vendors on site that will be provided by several cultural groups.
For more information, visit the Motif Facebook page.
