Afro-Caribbean Festival returns to Red Deer on Aug. 15-16

She said it’s also a way to encourage them to stay in Red Deer because they get to experience bigger city festivals such as this in a smaller community.

Calgary and Edmonton both have similar events and said they’ve collaborated with them to put on the festival in Red Deer.

They hope to continue to expand the festival in the future.

“Every year it’s grown,” she said. “We started with really focusing more on performances, cultures, and the community really getting to know each other. When you have the community come together you get to know other communities. Even our newcomers they come and get to know Canadians… Most of them don’t have family here so now they have a Canadian family hosting them at the festival.”

The festival is coined the most colourful street celebration, which will include drums, dancing, heritage costumes, food from across Africa and the Caribbean, and a parade of flags filling Ross Street. The festival brings people together and helps everyone feel they belong.

Saturday, Aug. 15 is the main day of the festival, which runs from noon to 8 p.m.

The first hour is the opening celebration with a few different speakers, followed by a flags ceremony as well as a drum performance from a group who travelled from Edmonton, among other performances.

There will also be a beer gardens available all weekend and an after-party on Saturday scheduled from 9 p.m to 12 p.m. at Bo’s Bar & Stage.

On Sunday, the festival will run from 12 to 6 p.m. where there will be more local performances throughout the day.

There will also be kids activities at City Hall park throughout the weekend.

“It’s all about the community coming together and enjoying African Caribbean as well as some other cultures,” Mohamoud added. “It’s a family-friendly event so all ages and people are welcome.”

by Ian Gustafson

Afro-Caribbean Festival returns to Red Deer on Aug. 15-16

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