Toronto Caravan highlights cultures via over 30 international pavilions

TORONTO - Festival Caravan, which draws on Toronto's rich storehouse of cultures from around the world to showcase the entertainment and arts attractions of various language groups and cultural communities, will feature over 30 international pavilions located throughout the Greater Toronto Area. The festival runs from June 13 to 21.

This year's festival theme celebrates the 500th anniversary of the landing in North America of explorer John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto).

Among the pavilions forming part of the Cabot story are the Italian Pavilion honoring the explorer's home town of Venice; an English Pavilion representing Cabot's point of departure from Bristol, his route as well as his tiny sailing vessel the Matthew; and a Newfoundland-Italian Pavilion, marking Cabot's landing in Newfoundland 500 years ago.

The other 30 pavilions - representing, among others, the Japanese, Finnish, German, Portuguese, Egyptian, Korean, and Asian-Pacific communities - will feature music, dance arts and crafts, as well as special exhibits.

A flagship of Caravan since the inception of the festival, is the Kyiv Ukrainian Pavilion at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, 297 College St., which will present a retrospective of Ukrainian life in Canada over the past century, dating back to its earliest settlers in the west and noting the beginnings of community life in Canada.

The Ukrainian program will feature musical theater and Ukrainian dancing by premiere ensembles from Ontario, among them: Kalyna, Vesnianka, Vesna, Bukovyna and the Zaporozhtsi. Also featured will be the Silver Bells bandura trio from Ukraine.

Festival Caravan was founded in 1969 by Ukrainian Canadian Zena Kossar, a native of Arran, Saskatchewan, and long-time festival executive, vice-president and CEO.

Caravan Passports will provide unlimited admission to over 200 shows throughout the nine-day festival. The pass for the entire festival period is $20. Children age 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Each passport includes maps and addresses to all pavilions.

A festival guide, available in advance of the festival, lists showtimes, maps and transit information.

For specific information on special programs, pavilions and passports call InfoCaravan, (416) 977-0466.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 8, 1997, No. 23, Vol. LXV

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