Heritage Festival kicks off for 40th year

It was a rainy start to Edmonton's largest cultural festival. But, just as the sun eventually emerged at Hawrelak Park, so did crowds of visitors to this year's Heritage Festival.

The festival, now in its 40th year, will bring hundreds of thousands of people to the park to sample the music, art, and -- of course -- food of dozens of different cultures.

"This festival, in Edmonton, has its roots solidly grounded. It will last forever," said Jack Little, director of the festival.

Little, who is planning to retire this year, said he has seen the festival grow from a small collection of a dozen countries to a festival that now fills the park.

This year, sixty-one pavilions represent 85 separate countries. It includes five first-time additions: Lebanon, South Sudan, Morocco, Haiti and Rwanda.

Shakilla Umutoni, who helped put together the Rwandan booth, said she was excited to be a part of this year's festival, seeing it as the chance to share her home country's culture with others.

"We have a lot to learn from the other cultures here … we are very glad to show people what our country has to offer," she said.

With a population as ethnically-diverse as Edmonton's, Umutoni believes it is important to have events that allow people to experience cultures outside of their own.

"I think it's a very good opportunity for people to know each other. When you come here and see more than 50 countries gathered together, you have a lot to learn."

This year's festival has a few new additions to celebrate the past four decades, including an exhibit on Heritage Festival's history and an expanded children's pavilion, complete with a new science centre.

"Hopefully the kids will blow themselves up," Little laughed.

The festival continues until Monday, which will feature a free concert and an annual citizenship ceremony for around 80-100 new Canadians.