MEDIA RELEASE
August 9, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5th ANNUAL FILIPINO STREET FESTIVAL MOVES DOWNTOWN AS PART OF DOWNTOWN BIZ’S EVENT PROGRAM
Downtown Winnipeg – Courtesy of new funding through the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s Host It Downtown program, the 5th annual Manitoba Filipino Street Festival will move downtown, bringing a projected 8,000 people with them.
“We’re appreciative of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s support in bringing our annual celebration downtown,” says Aida Champagne, Chairman of the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival. “We are excited to share the rich culture and traditions of the Philippines with the residents, office workers, students, and businesses downtown and invite everyone to participate.”
The Philippines is comprised of 7,100 islands with 80 provinces and 170 different dialects. It is a small country, rich in natural beauty and the welcoming smiles of its people. No matter what time of year, visitors to the country will come across at least one of hundreds of festivals being celebrated in the Philippines. Each region in the Philippines has its own unique and colourful way of celebrating their distinct regional culture in yearly festivals. This rich cultural diversity among Filipino people as well as their heartwarming hospitality is what the Filipino community hopes to showcase and share with others in their new home in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The 2016 Manitoba Filipino Street Festival will host several exciting events leading up to the August 20th Parade and Street Festival. These events include the Search of the Queen of the Festival and Tiannge Ng Bayan (Flea Market). The Manitoba Filipino Street Festival on Saturday August 20 will start at 9AM, with a parade and street dancing on the streets of Downtown Winnipeg. Event organizers are expecting an even larger group this year as the festival grows year after year. Organizations coming as far as Calgary, Neepawa and Brandon will join the parade of floats, ethnic costumes and cultural dances. Community associations’ tents along Broadway and Memorial will be decorated according to the region that each association represents.
When: Saturday, August 20 at 9 AM
Where: Throughout Downtown Winnipeg
What: Features of the festival can be found online: www.filipinostreetfestival.ca
Parade throughout the downtown
Cultural dance competition
Food vendors
Local dancers and musicians
“Since launching in June of 2015, the Host It Downtown program has stimulated over 15 events, injecting an investment of $1.8 million in economic spending in the city, with an estimated attendance of 56,000 people, and supporting closing to 80 downtown businesses in their event plans,” says Stefano Grande, Chief Executive Officer of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. “These events help bolster local sales and keep wealth in the community, expanding on downtown’s unique footprint as the place for festivals and events.”
Host It Downtown aims to solidify downtown Winnipeg as the premier destination for high-quality and outdoor events year-round – by providing individuals or organizations with the opportunity for seed funding and event support; creating new events and attracting existing events to the heart of our city.
For more information about the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival, visit: www.filipinostreetfestival.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Emily Ormonde
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Downtown Winnipeg BIZ
Tel: (204) 958-4635
emily@downtownwinnipegbiz.com
Aida Champagne, Chairman
Manitoba Filipino Street Festival
Tel: (204) 960-8530
aidachampagne12@gmail.com
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