Sunny climate and tricksy ice cream — Edmonton Heritage Pageant opens at new location on a excessive

Article content material

The promise of sunny climate for the lengthy weekend drew hundreds of holiday makers to the Edmonton Heritage Pageant’s opening day.

On Saturday at midday the pageant welcomed guests to its momentary dwelling at Edmonton’s Exhibition Lands and Borden Park. Households entered hand-in-hand, carrying clothes from all kinds of backgrounds. One household costume in vibrant hanbok — conventional Korean clothes usually reserved for vacation celebrations. Others wore saris fabricated from daring purples and blues with gold detailing. 

Article content material

A crowd of at the very least 10 individuals surrounded an ice-cream trolly on the Uyghur pavilion. Behind it stood a person who was serving conventional Turkish goat milk ice cream known as dondurma — however as an alternative of handing the younger boy in entrance his cone, he needed to entertain with a little bit of teasing first. The pliable nature of the ice cream permits distributors to carry out little tips on prospects like rotating it round and taking it away earlier than lastly giving it to their shoppers. 

Mehliya Cetinkaya, 17, is operating the present on the Uyghur pavilion. Her father, who’s Turkish, was the inspiration behind bringing within the Turkish ice cream. Her mom is Uyghur. Their pavilion returned for his or her second yr in a row and this time they’re providing a style of their dwelling nation. 

“I’ve been working and educating individuals about who we’re, our individuals, our tradition, our historical past since I used to be actually like 12 years previous. It’s very nice that this yr we’re in a position to do meals. It’s at all times these moments which can be like, oh my gosh, like that is so enjoyable,” mentioned Cetinkaya. 

The pavilion can also be providing laghmen, a standard hand-pulled noodle that’s typically served on birthdays to want the individual a protracted life, just like the noodles, mentioned Cetinkaya.

Article content material

The Philippines pavilion drew in a large crowd round their stage because the Cebu Sinulog Cultural Society carried out pageant dances that originated within the Philippines. On Saturday they wore vibrant outfits of vibrant blues, yellows and purples — emulating the standard pageant clothes from the Sinulog pageant within the Philippines, one of many nation’s largest.

Jonah Boraj, the president of the cultural society, mentioned this was the society’s first yr performing on the pageant and to this point it has been nothing however welcoming.

“That is our probability and alternative to showcase our expertise, our tradition, to the Edmonton neighborhood,” mentioned Boraj. 

Edmonton Heritage Pageant will proceed till Monday. Admission to the pageant is free however persons are inspired to deliver a donation for the Edmonton Meals Financial institution.