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The first weekend of the Carrousel of Nations across Windsor and Essex County drew healthy crowds under near-perfect weather.
The festival, organized by the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County, has 30 villages spread across the region. The opening weekend featured 17 villages, with 20 villages running June 21-23.
Each village offers ethnic food and entertainment from various nations.
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The Polish Village on Langlois Avenue had two tents running, one with ethnic food and one offering entertainment. Both were brimming with activity Sunday.
The reliably enjoyable atmosphere at the Polish Village draws people back every year, said Paweł Piasecki, president of the organizing committee. The village featured Polish food, drinks and dancing.
Asked what makes the village so popular, Piasecki replied, “the taste of the food and the taste of the beer.”
Sharon Nurse, of the Caribbean Village on Central Avenue, said staples jerk chicken, rum punch and patties were as popular as ever, especially on Saturday, with big lineups.
The Caribbean Centre, under the new leadership of Peter Thompson, hopes to include more young people in its plans this year, she said.
“Our goal is with the new executive is continue to grow to include our youth,” said Nurse. “Our mothers and our fathers are leaving the legacy and we have to keep it going. We have to come up with new ways to involve the community.”
Five-time Juno winner and reggae artist Exco Levi will headline next weekend on June 22.
There are seven new villages this year, including Canadian, Middle Eastern, and Persian villages in Windsor; a Croatian Village in Maidstone; a Dutch Village in Kingsville; and Portuguese and Mexican villages in Leamington.
The Carrousel of Nations continues June 21-23.
For more information visit carrouselofnations.com
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