Mondial des Cultures facts for kids

The Mondial Des Cultures was a fun folk dance festival. It happened every summer in early July. The festival took place in Woodyatt Park, in Drummondville, a city in Centre-du-Québec. This event started in 1982. It was inspired by a similar festival in France. The last festival was held in 2017.

For eleven days, many artists and dance groups from all over the world came together. In its last years, over 300,000 people visited the festival each year. The Mondial des Cultures was one of the four largest folk festivals in the world. It was also a key part of the Canadian section of CIOFF. This is an international group for folk festivals and traditional arts. CIOFF works with UNESCO.

What Was the Festival About?

The Mondial des Cultures wanted to offer a great festival. It was for people who loved to discover cultures from around the world.

Its main goal was to: "Create an international cultural event. It would show different traditions from around the world. It was a festival for the whole family. It aimed to spread a spirit of friendship and peace."

A Look Back: Festival History

The very first Mondial des Cultures happened in July 1982. It got help from the Canadian Council of Folk Art. People in Drummondville also supported it right away. This made the festival a quick success. It quickly became famous in Quebec, North America, and the world.

Over 27 years, groups from about 90 countries performed. More than 430 different artistic groups shared their dance and music. In 1998, the festival changed its name. This helped update its image. It also started to focus more on young people and families. The Mondial des Cultures stood out among many summer festivals. It was known for its unique content and shows.

Where the Fun Happened: Festival Sites

Woodyatt Park in Drummondville was the main place for the festival. All the activities and shows took place here each summer.

• The Grande Place SAQ: This was the main stage. It held big shows and could fit over 3,500 people seated. About 30 major performances happened here.
• The Folkothèque Bluberi: This was a large tent for about 800 people. Visitors could meet folk dancers and musicians up close. They could even learn some dance steps! Over 55 interactive shows happened here.
• The Pavillon des Cultures Loto-Québec: Here, visitors could learn about different customs and traditions. They could play games and taste foods from around the world. About 75 activities were scheduled here.
• The Youth Area Hydro-Québec: This area was made just for kids aged 2 to 12. It had games, face painting, crafts, and board games. About 20 special performances for kids also took place here.

Amazing Artists from Around the World

By 2009, 92 countries had been part of the Mondial des Cultures. Over 430 dance groups and 25,000 artists performed. Many famous artists also took the main stage. These included Corneille, Zachary Richard, la Compagnie Créole, and Grégory Charles.