Gold sponsor Air Canada is bringing back their popular ticket giveaway this year! They’re offering two free roundtrip tickets from any Air Canada airport in the US to any of the 80 locations they serve in Canada! Share this video from our socials to yours (make it public so we can see it!), buy a ticket to the Fest (they’re just $10 in June!), and enter your name at the Air Canada booth on September 21 at Canadiana Fest 2024!
#CanadianaFest #CanadianaFest2024 #AirCanada
Latest Festival Updates
Canadiana Fest fundraiser at Buddy’s Pizza Wednesday 8/14 from 11 am to 9 pm!
Ready for a mouthwatering meal that supports a great cause? Join us at Buddy’s Pizza (5314 S. Westnedge Ave) on Wednesday, August 14th between 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM and make a difference! With every order you place using the code GIVEBACK, 20% will be donated to Canadiana Fest.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to dine for a purpose! RSVP & details here: https://grouprai.se/s283176
#CanadianaFest #CanadianaFest2024 #ACFKZO #ChefAndCooksAssociation #buddyspizza #fundraiser
See Channon & Kalam A. Moose on Fox 17 with Lauren Kummer!
Channon and Kalam drove north to appear on Fox 17 television with fellow Canadian Lauren Kummer! Check them out here:
https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/kzoo-bc/kalamazoo/bring-your-eh-game-canadiana-fest-to-return-to-kalamazoo-for-its-second-year
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A festival celebrating all things Canada is returning to Kalamazoo for its second year.
Canadiana Fest brings music, food, art, beer and culture to Arcadia Creek Festival Place on September 21, 2024.
Organizers say its for Canada lovers and the Canadian curious attendees can immerse themselves in Canadian culture and hospitality right in the heart of the Midwest.
Funds raised from ticket sales and purchases at the festival will go towards supporting local food banks and scholarships.
Originating as a response to pandemic losses, the festival arose out of Channon Mondoux, Canadian expatriate, local chef and food writer, triumphing over the challenge of not being able to return home to Canada. “If the girl couldn’t get to Canada, Canada was going to come to the girl!,” she said.
This year the festival features headliner Crystal Shawanda, a multiple Juno Award-winning artist from Wikwemikong First Nations on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Originally a country chart topper, this renowned blues musician living in Nashville, Tennessee, will showcase her latest album, “Midnight Blues”. Shawanda’s blues collection highlights her distinctive raspy voice, which earned her the 2024 Maple Blues Award for Indigenous Artist of the Year.
There will be several other performances throughout the festival as well.
The opening ceremony will be shared in both English and French and will feature a parade led by a “Red Green Brigade” of the marchers dressed as the renowned title character of the “Red Green Show“. The public is invited to take up the banner and join in to win a costume contest prize.
The festival also boasts custom crafted Canadian-style beer in addition to imported favorites, including the annual release of Final Gravity’s “Double Double Stout”. It’s a rich, cream and coffee infused brew fashioned after the famous Tim Horton’s classic coffee. Brewery Outré is serving up their NewFound Brown Ale along with other regional breweries unique takes on Canadian beers. In the VIP tent, master mixologists will fashion mocktails exclusively created for the festival and featuring Clearly Canadian bubbles.
For food, Canadian Chefs Channon Mondoux and Austin Shynal (certified sommelier), and the team at the VFW Red Arrow Post 1527 will create the “Canuck Canteen” offering authentic Canadian cuisine like poutine (a deceptive authentic vegan recipe) tourtiere, peameal bacon, nanaimo bars and butter tarts.
There will also be a poutine contest showcasing locally-owned restaurants and food trucks and a butter tart competition open to all.
Art is a large component to the festival, and there will be many booths featuring local artists who have a Canadian connection including Kris Kaleta, renowned local chainsaw artist, who will carve a piece live at the festival that will be auctioned off upon completion. Daniel Ellis’s work includes graphic portrait designs of famous Canadians and landscapes of iconic Canadian locations in addition to his original oil paintings; and jewelry artist Melody Faith, whose ancestry includes Canadian roots, will share her Canadian inspired multi-media jewelry including semi- precious stones harvested from the Great Lakes.
New to the festival this year is a Canadian Sports Center led by former Canadian Olympic Athlete and two-time WMU Hall of Famer Heather Sawyer. This hands-on, family-friendly learning center will feature basketball (which was invented by a Canadian), hockey, lacrosse and curling with skills workshops being offered, led by WMU Athletes, local teams and clubs.
William Griffey of the Iroquois Nation will also share the historical, cultural and spiritual lessons of the origins of lacrosse, Canada’s official summer sport.
Canadiana Fest will offer fun for all ages with face painting, arts and crafts, book readings in English, French and Cree, genealogy consults of French and Scottish Canadian origins, living history reenactors portraying early French Canadians, and more. Last year, these activities resulted in local families discovering and meeting distant relatives through their joint French Canadian heritage.
The festival will also open its arms to all people, providing sign language interpreters for announcements and bands, mobility access for drop off and audience seating and QR codes created to aid those with sight impairments. The festival also is reaching out to underserved communities in Kalamazoo to offer free tickets.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here. If you’re interested in learning more about the festival or would like to sponsor or volunteer, head to the festival’s website.
You won’t want to miss this year’s musicians!
Current Musical Lineup:
Crystal Shawanda Blues Crystal Shawanda | Official Twice Juno Award-winning and 2024 Maple Blues Award winner for Indigenous Artist of the Year, powerhouse Crystal Shawanda is coming to belt out her latest studio album, Midnight Blues, on True North Records. Her fiery blues collection showcases her full-throttle raspy voice, unmatched in today’s musical landscape, and an authentic appreciation for the genre dating back to her youth. Born in Wiikwemkoong First Nation, on Manitoulin Island, in Northern Ontario, Crystal points to early influences like Etta James, Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy. Her music reached No. 1 on the Canadian Country Album chart and No. 16 on the Billboard Top Country Albums, the highest charting album by a full-blooded Canadian Indigenous country artist (in the SoundScan-era).
Julius “The Genius” Fisher Julius is a Black musician, singer, songwriter, producer, band leader, and DJ. He is a gifted keyboard player and will be the opener for Crystal Shawanda. He is currently living in Nashville.
Rock Rx Rock Rx (rockrxband.com) Hailing from the Kalamazoo area, like a streaker at a sporting event, you won’t be able to take your eyes off this high-energy cover band doing their rendition of best Canadian Rock, Pop and R&B. They make the audience feel like they are part of the band, literally. Don’t be surprised if you have a mic in your face during the show, as you sing along to one of your favorite songs.
Skye Consort & Emma Björling A Canadian trad/folk band with Trans-Atlantic Nordic-Celtic-Acadian-Quebecois roots offering up the haunting voice of award winning Bjorling and gorgeous vocal of renown shanty artist Seán Dagher joined with multi instrumentalists/vocalists Amanda Keesmaat, Simon Alexandre and Alex Kehler playing fiddle, nyckelharpa, cello, bouzouki, banjo, and percussion riffing on whirling polskas, groovy reels, passionate love songs, breathtaking hymns, and original compositions. Singing in French, English and Swedish, this band will take you back to some of the earliest impact on Canadian culture- through Nordic nuances, French Canadian traditional and Celtic influences.
Andrew Rathbun Ensemble Twice Juno Award nominated Jazz musician, featuring songs from his new recording “The Speed of Time” on Steeplechase Records.
Kalamazoo Pipe Band . The Kalamazoo Pipe Band is dedicated to teaching, performing & promoting highland bagpipe music in Kalamazoo, MI. Originating in the 1950’s, they have had the honor of piping at many Michigan ceremonies and events. Their heart thumping drum and heart wrenching pipes will move you and invoke the spirit of Canada’s Commonwealth origins.
Southern Straight Singers This group of 20+ Potawatomi, Ojibwe, Odawa and Chippewa drummers and singers will share their sacred drum and music at Canadiana Fest, leading our opening ceremonies with a round dance!
Come volunteer with us!
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Scottish Fest at River Saint Joe 4-6-24
We had a terrific time on a beautiful Saturday at River Saint Joe brewery, restaurant, and farm out in Buchanan MI for their Scottish Fest! We met some nice folks and Kalam A. Moose amused children, dogs, and adults alike.
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Kalam also had a chance to get his dancing shoes on to the lovely sounds of a sweet duo from the Grand Rapids Scottish Society, who were playing a lilting tune!
Honoring Lansing artist and graphic designer Tony Steele, who birthed our mascot vision!
In an age when AI drawing seems to be the thing, we wanted to herald the talents of Lansing graphic designer and artist Tony Steele B.F.A. of Steele Works, Inc. He drew all three of our mascots Kalam A. Moose, Bobby Beerver, and Polli Poutine. He saw our vision and made it happen, and for that we are eternally grateful. Remember, while AI might seem easy, having the skill of an actual artist can’t be beat. Thank you, Tony!
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Here’s how Kalam A. Moose, Bobby Beerver, and Polli Poutine looked in the beginning!
And here’s how everyone turned out! I think Polli Poutine is FAR more approachable than she started out!
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And what’s REALLY cool is that we brought that vision to life! Kalam is shown here at the Coldest Night of the Year charity event for our partner the Southern Michigan Food Bank! He walked the entire route with us and delighted many of the children in attendance.
2023 Highlight Video – Come See Us 9/21/24!
Canadiana Fest 2024 is going to be even better than last year’s inaugural event! Join us at Arcadia Creek Festival Site in downtown Kalamazoo on Saturday, September 21! Check back for upcoming news and announcements or follow our socials on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads!
Interested in becoming a sponsor of Canadiana Fest? Let’s talk!
Honoring Charlie Holleman, 1957-2024
Charlie Holleman, you couldn’t get more Canadian and still not be born there;
Charlie was a quintessential Canadian guy, he played hockey (was a goalie right up until his knees wouldn’t work anymore), he played guitar and sang folk songs, he wore plaid often, he sang the “Arrogant Worms”, he loved horses and dogs and wearing big furry hats and poutine and snow and beer! He had a self-deprecating sense of humor and was always quick with a smile. But most of all, Charlie was one of the kindest, most caring people I’ve ever met. If he said “sorry” it was never in jest, he always wanted you to know he empathized with you. And he embodied what Canadiana Fest hopes to offer to the world- fun, joy and kindness. The only thing not Canadian about him was that he wasn’t born there, or lived there, but somehow he became what we call “Canadian Forward” and so we adopted him as one of our own.
Charlie and his band, The Hen-Pecked Dawgs, played the inaugural Canadiana Fest in 2023 with style. He was immensely proud of that. It was glorious to hear the sea shanties and Celtic Canadiana they played and sang. Not only did he sing and play at the fest, but he worked harder than most people half his age, toting and lifting equipment and tables late into the night to get us ready.
Like many a good thing, we lost Charlie way too soon, in a tragic car accident this past February. Although we are incredibly sad and already miss him immensely, we’d like to honor his Canadian Spirit by dedicating the festival in his name.
Here’s to you Charlie! You’ll always be in our hearts, we’ll never forget your Canuck attitude or your silky voice.
A Canadian Blessing;
May the spirit of the land grant you peace,
The warmth of the community hold you close,
And the enduring hope of the heart guide you,
Through the seasons of life.
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Save the date for Canadiana Fest 2024!
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