Join us for the Casinos of Winnipeg Folklorama Kick-Off on July 29th at the Assiniboine Park’s Lyric Theatre from 4:00-8:00 pm! This FREE family-friendly celebration will launch Folklorama’s 52nd Festival.

Experience interactive cultural workshops, the 2023 Pavilion Ambassadors parade, and the Pavilion Expo, along with performances, food trucks, children’s activities, and more!

This years’ performers are:

Winnipeg Steel Orchestra

Magdaragat Philippines Inc.

Ena Sutton Highland Dancers

Manitoba Great Wall Performing Arts

Viva Brasil, Asham Stompers

Croatia Dawn

KEFI Manitoba,

Sol de España

India Pavilion Performers

Dance World – Cuban Pavilion Performers

Zoloto Ukrainian Dance Ensemble.

Meet your hosts!

Colleen Bready, CTV Weather (4:00 – 6:00 pm)

Colleen first joined the CTV News team in August 2011. She is the Weather Specialist for CTV News at Noon, 5, and 6.

Colleen got her start in journalism in radio at 680 CJOB in 2005. She was a general assignment reporter with a focus on police and crime and city hall. She was also a newsreader and backup traffic reporter, on four wheels and from the air in the helicopter.

Colleen first made the jump to television in 2008. Before presenting weather forecasts, Colleen wore many hats as a broadcast journalist including radio/television reporter as well as a radio news presenter. She covered a wide range of topics from politics, crime, and courts to health and human interest stories.

Colleen was born and raised in Winnipeg. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Advanced) degree in Political Studies from the University of Manitoba.

Ace Burpee, Virgin 103.1 (6:00 – 8:00 pm)

Ace Burpee has worked in radio for over a decade in almost every capacity and is well known for the hundreds of charitable events and causes that he donates his time to every year. He is the host of The Ace Burpee Show on 103.1 Virgin Radio. Ace is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service to our community, he is the recipient of a Hero of Mental Health Award from the Canadian Mental Health Association, he has received a Volunteer Manitoba Award for Outstanding Community Leadership, was recognized as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Manitoba and also named a Manitoba Hero. He is proudly from Cooks Creek Manitoba.