When Culture Days swings into Flin Flon this fall, it will bring with it a celebration of all things wild.
Culture Days will be held this year on Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 2 in communities across Canada.
Flin Flon is known for the depth of its program, put together each year by Crystal Kolt, cultural coordinator with the Flin Flon Arts Council, and her
team of volunteers.
This year Kolt is also on the board for Culture Days Manitoba.
“We were part of the inaugural event in 2010 and were among the top 10 host communities in the country,” said Kolt. “Last year Flin Flon was listed as the No. 2 community in Canada based on the activities and events we put on for Culture Days.”
It’s a great accomplishment considering some of the major centres across Canada that were part of the celebration, and Kolt said that the whole community of Flin Flon gets involved.
“Culture includes everything. It can be fishing, hockey, fine arts, heritage – it’s everything, and there is something special about having events take place across the whole country so everyone is celebrating at the same time.”
The Flin Flon Arts Council acts as the umbrella group organizing the event, with groups, organizations and individuals putting on separate activities.
“We ask, ‘What do you want to share?’ and get different groups doing their part,” she said of cultivating participation.
Last year there were 80 events held during Culture Days and Kolt expects that number to be even higher this year.
In the works this year is a new Where the Wild Things Are outdoor market, planned for Creekside Park on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kolt is working hard to attract a wide range of vendors featuring natural foods, wild berry jams, mushrooms, fish, teas and birch syrups, to name a few.
Favourites such as the Flin Flon Bombers’ street hockey game and Dancing Down Main Street will keep everyone moving.
Throughout the weekend, hands-on classes will feature everything from arts and crafts workshops to circus skills. Henna tattoos, face painting, cooking, dance classes and open mic times for writers will get everyone involved.
A chess competition and Magic tournament featuring the popular card game will bring people together.
Guest performances by hip hop artists and local bands will be sure to bring entertainment for
every taste.
First Nations drumming, arts and crafts will be featured events people won’t want to miss and displays featuring photography, painting and drawing of local artists will show the diversity and skill of people in the area.
New to Culture Days will be a fashion show directed by a fashion photographer from Los Angeles. The sister of Reminder publisher Valerie Durnin, Lesley Pedraza has 30 years of experience in the fashion industry, both in front of the camera as a model and behind the camera as a photographer.
Wild Things will be the theme for this show. “This will be a haute couture event that is going to be great,” said Kolt.
“There are going to be things happening for everyone in the family from young kids to seniors,” said Kolt. “This is a great opportunity to show the community what we have to offer and to get everyone involved.”
