'Bigger and bolder:' This year's GlobalFest expected to break records at new venue
A move from Elliston Park to Spruce Meadows means GlobalFest will look different this year, but organizers say the heart of the festival and its beloved traditions will remain very much the same.
The move, announced earlier this year , was made necessary after declining attendance raised uncertainty about the festival’s future, said Ken Goosen, chief operating officer of Global Mosaic Alberta Society (formerly GlobalFest Society).
The festival, which kicks off Thursday, has evolved since it began in 2003, and Goosen said the new venue provides room to continue to grow.
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“Everything that was traditional at GlobalFest at Ellison Park is continuing,” he said. “The iconic international fireworks display will still be accompanied by the OneWorld festival, with cultural pavilions, performances and food trucks offering food from all over the world.
“That’s been sort of a hallmark of the festival,” Goosen said. “It stays the same, but it’s still being elevated.”
The change in venue, along with partnerships with both Spruce Meadows and Showpass, have allowed for every aspect of the festival to be “bigger and bolder” this year, said Showpass CEO Lucas McCarthy.
“This is going to be one of the largest fireworks displays GlobalFest has done in its history,” he said.
Each night, the fireworks will also be accompanied by Alberta’s largest drone show .
The main stage will feature what McCarthy calls a “barrage of new and interesting talent,” including Calgary artists Ruben Young and Alex Hughes.
Three celebrity chefs — Shota Nakajima, Aarón Sánchez and Antonia Lofaso — will each be creating a menu item, representing Japan, Mexico and Italy, respectively, and corresponding to the theme country each night. The three chefs will also judge a food truck competition.
A Japanese car show presented by Calgary-based Lift King will feature a collection of Fast and Furious vehicles, as well as an appearance by Fast and Furious actor Noel Gugliemi.
Festival-goers can also take in Sumo wrestlers, a night market, karaoke bar, speakeasy and more.
5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on calgaryherald.com — the content belongs to Calgary Herald.
