The Saskatoon Folkfest, a beloved summer event that showcases diverse global cultures, will see a reduced lineup this year as the Ukrainian and Scottish pavilions have announced they will not participate.
The festival, known for showcasing different cultures, will feel the absence of these two key pavilions.
Gerald Sorokan, the manager of the Ukrainian pavilion, highlighted the financial strain behind their decision.
“To put up a pavilion costs between $100,000 to $130,000 at Prairieland, which is really crazy. That’s what it costs us. Yes, we are the biggest pavilion, but yes, we have the biggest expenses,” Sorokan said.
The efforts to host a pavilion at the Folkfest are significant, requiring a large team of dedicated volunteers.
Paula Irvine, an organizer of the Folkfest, emphasized the impact of volunteering.
“The executive director has said to the board many times that if everyone that celebrated Folkfest volunteered for even just a couple …