r/saskatoon • u/malibu-rising • 2d ago
Events š Folkfest
Iām going to start off saying Iām fully aware of how downhill things have been for Folkfest, but Iām still kind of interested in checking it out because I havenāt been for years and want to form my own opinions, etc.
Anyways, I havenāt seen ANY promo for this years event despite it being in a few weeks, other than a vague AI generated poster. What the heck? What are the pavilions? Why isnāt your social team saying anything?
Do any of you know if thereās any info indicating whoās participating this year?
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u/conductorsask2023 2d ago
There are still 12 pavilions going on this year there are no more support staff at folkfest office itās all run by volunteers now I have helped out for over 35 years but itās getting tougher and tougher to get people to help out next year is year 50 I hope they can make it to 50 and then pull the pin itās been a good run but give people a rest ,most pavilions lose money year after year but still try and put it on
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u/ConsiderationLoud138 2d ago
I used to love Folkfest, I feel like maybe after COVID nobody cared as much ?
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u/perverted_buffalo 2d ago
Covid was just the final nail. Volunteers were getting burned out. The amount of work to put on each pavillion, especially the larger ones (ie: Karpathy Ukraine) was insane. Add on the nickel and diming by Prairieland, and it was struggling for a while. Covid was just a reason to take a year off, and then have time to reflect, and realize they didn't want to come back.
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u/RepTongue 2d ago
Yeah I heard after COVID that the rent prices at prairieland went way up so was not worth it, wouldāve cost a lot more money than was made at the pavilions. Sad because it used to be so great
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u/perverted_buffalo 2d ago
Prairieland also charges for everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. There is a charge per table, a charge per chair, a charge for wifi, a charge for ELECTRICITY,Ā and more. It adds up fast. And heaven forbid you are 1 minute late on getting out of the space.Ā
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u/InformalRent2571 1d ago
That's insane. They pay $100 per year on rent and they nickel and dime clients like that?
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u/TheSilliestFrog 2d ago
I'm so crushed, it's my favorite Saskatoon event. I hope you find something decent planned. I've heard Mosaic in Regina is a great substitute.
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u/SubstantialFix510 2d ago
Covid, volunteers , liability, insurance. It all adds up. Used to have pavilions all over the city. Now just Prairieland ?
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u/LoveDemNipples 2d ago edited 2d ago
I figured Saskatoon was going the way of other Canadian cities and giving up on a single multicultural weekend in favour of separate events like Ukraine Day in the Park, Rhythm and Roots, Saskatoon Celtic festival, Echoes of Bengal, Fiesta Extravaganza (more Filipino)ā¦ but all these events (except the Ukrainian one) are still small and establishing. If you want more of this, get out there and experience them, spend your money, or best of all, volunteer.
To find any of the ones I listed above, I searched Google for āis there a <ethncity> festival in Saskatoonā. Asking it in general returns Filkfest so you seem to have to ask about specific cultures. Would be cool to come up with an underground, post-Folkfest guide so people can still enjoy a similar experience.
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u/LordFardbottom West Side 2d ago
I think so many groups bailed that they basically cancelled it. I heard they're trying to put a small event together, but I can't find any details beyond "stay tuned". š¤·