Excitement is building as the Brantford International Villages Cultural Festival approaches.
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Pat Eyzenga, festival president, says she loves the music and dancing.
“And the food, of course,” she quickly adds.
“I go to them all.”
Each village celebrates its culture in a different hall or facility, some all four days, July 3-6, Wednesday to Saturday, some just the Friday and Saturday.
This year’s 15 villages and their ambassadors include Chinese (Hanna Gyorki), East Coast Canada (Isabella Mork), Hungarian (Marcus Storjohann), India (Karman Randhawa), Italian (Gianna Ciommo), Muslim (Aizah Ghaznavi), New York, New York (Katelyn Florek), Palestinian (Bylesan Hanane), Filipino (Sharon Mae Taylor), Polish Polonaise (Natalia Ciochon), Polish Warszawa (Victoria Wroblewski), Scottish (Caitlin Crowley), Ukrainian (Sierra Petryschuk), United Africa (Dorcas Sodipo ) and the British Village.
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Hanna Gyorki, Chinese Village ambassador, says her village at the Royal Canadian Legion, 9 Tollgate Road, Brantford, from July 3-6 will be “very lively” and she is excited.
“You get to really show off your culture to other people,” said Gyorki. “When they come to your village, you know somebody is interested in your culture and you feel really happy, and for the future generations, it continues.”
The village will feature Chinese folk dance, singing, and music performances with traditional instruments, as well as tai chi demonstrations.
“I know that the Grand River Orchestra is going to be there,” said Gyorki.
New York, New York Village at 55 Tom Street, Brantford is sponsored by the Kinsmen Club of Brantford.
“Everybody and anybody is welcome, as New York City, US is a hub of immigration and diversity and culture,” said Katelyn Florek, the New York, New York Village ambassador.
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“I am really looking forward to when the ambassadors go on tour because I’ve heard so much from the other ambassadors about their villages,” said Florek. “So I’m really excited to see the cultural demonstrations.”
New York style food will include pizza and cheesecake. Entertainment will be provided by dance Studio 5678.
“A lot of the entertainment – and hours for the entertainment – and menus are available on the International Villages website (brantfordvillages.ca),” Florek noted.
The Ukrainian Village will be at Harmony United Church.
“We have multiple dances this year,” said Ukrainian Village ambassador Sierra Petryschuk, “including the traditional folk dance hopak – with the red leather boots – which we’ve been doing for years. We’re serving perogiescabbage rolls, shish kabobs, sauerkraut… lots of delicious food.”
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Petryschuk, 19, first danced at Brantford’s Ukrainian Village when she was seven, and this year, for the first time, she will be visiting other villages.
“I’ve always been dancing in my village, so this year I am so looking forward to experiencing the other villages. I don’t know which ones I am going to yet, but I cannot wait to experience everyone’s cultures.
“It’s something everyone should be proud of. I know I’ve wanted to be an ambassador since I was only seven years old.”
Sample ‘melt-in-your-mouth’ haggis at the Scottish Village, July 5-6, or Scottish meat pies, shortbread, and other snacks. Entertainment will include Highland dancing, bagpipes and fiddle.
“I’m excited to perform,” said Caitlin Crowley, Scottish Village ambassador, who competes at Highland Games.
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Crowley also said she is looking forward to visiting other villages.
“I love the food and excitement of the cultures, performances and shows.”
Festival passports ($10) can be purchased at the Brantford Tourism Center (Wayne Gretzky Sports Complex), Best Western Brantford (19 Holiday Drive) and the Sanderson Center for the Performing Arts (88 Dalhousie Street).
Passports can also be purchased at each village site, which gives access to all locations. Food and beverages can be purchased at each site. Hours vary, and not all sites are open all four days.
There will be a free shuttle bus between villages.
The Brantford International Villages Cultural Festival goes back to 1974, and Eyzenga has been involved since the beginning.
“Fifty years is a long time,” said Eyzenga. “It’s a lot of work, but I enjoy it. Everybody asks me what is the best thing for me… and I say getting to know everybody again, and all the new villages. I am so happy for the new ones coming in.
“There are a lot of great new people coming in to help out the villages – everyone has been wonderful, they’ve been great – but a lot of villages still need help. Everybody does.”
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