Kalamazoo might be south of the Canadian border, but later this month, the city will be overflowing with poutine, maple syrup and all things Canuck.
The Canadiana Fest is returning to Arcadia Creek Festival Place from 1-11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, for its second year celebrating Canadian culture and the Indigenous, French and British components that created it.
Channon Russette-Mondoux, a Canadian native but resident of Kalamazoo for about 20 years, dreamt up the Canadiana Fest during the coronavirus pandemic , when she was unable to return to her home country for nearly three years. Instead, she created the Canadiana Fest to bring the country to her and others who love Canada.
Following the successful inaugural festival in 2023, here’s what to expect at this year’s Canadiana Fest.
Things to do
- Rick Green of the classic Canadian TV show “The Red Green Show” will be making an appearance with photo opportunities and autographs at the Red Green Possum Lodge.
- Dress up as a famous Canadian, Canadian character or your interpretation of “Captain Canada” for the Great Canadian Cosplay Contest . The top three winners of the cosplay contest will receive a prize.
- Browse hand-crafted and artisan goods at the Vendor Village. See the list of vendors here .
- Stop by the Sports Center for a game of curling, lacrosse, hockey or basketball.
- Watch a chainsaw art demo in Lumberjack Village at 2 and 3:30 p.m.
- Play a log rolling game in Lumberjack Village anytime from 2:30 p.m. until sundown.
- Take your kids to the Children’s Cultural Center for crafts, face painting, learning about French Canadian and British heritage and to listen to children’s books being read in the different languages spoken in Canada.
- Professional bakers and home bakers alike can compete in the buttertart bakeoff by bringing a dozen of their buttertarts to be judged by a panel of bakers, Canadians and buttertart lovers. Entries must be submitted to the judge’s booth at 1 p.m. and winners are announced at 6:45 p.m. Participants must sign up before the festival.
- Help pick the Canadiana Fest’s best poutine in a poutine competition. Samples of poutine will be sold from five places − Nisker’s Char Grill, Best Coast Provisions, The Canuck Canteen, Millenium Restaurant Group and Grand River Brewery − for $6 each, or you can purchase a Poutine Passport that includes all five samples for $25. Try the different types of poutine then vote for your favorite using a QR code. The winner will be announced at 6:45 p.m.