A traditional kickoff to summer in Windsor-Essex will return to an in-person format for the first time in three years.
Carrousel of the Nations, which celebrates the food, fashion, and music of Windsor-Essex's diverse population, will resume face-to-face celebrations over the last two weekends of June. The event is overseen by the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County (MCC).
MCC Executive Director Fred Francis is pleased the Carrousel will return to its rightful place among Windsor's start-of-summer events.
"Carrousel of the Nations has long been a mainstay of the region’s summer festival season, celebrating the diversity and cultural identities of the ethnic groups of Windsor-Essex," said Francis in a media release. "We are excited for the festival to return to an in-person format so that our community can immerse themselves in the culture and traditions that make our community unique."
The Carrousel had shifted to an online format in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the villages along the Carrousel offered takeout options for food and drink.
The theme for the 2022 event is "Discover Carrousel", according to event co-chair and MCC President Allison Johnson.
"An invitation to join the millions of visitors who have enjoyed world-class performance groups, cultural displays, traditional music and the best part, iconic festival food," said Johnson. "The traditions and celebrations that we have come to love and anticipate will be on full display for those who are ready to discover the world without leaving the region."
This year's villages will take place in Windsor, Essex, and Leamington, with most of them in the City of Windsor. The Windsor villages include African, Bavarian, Caribbean, Chinese, Filipino, German, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Scottish, Serbian Gracanica, Via Italia, and Mexican.
Leamington will host German and Lebanese villages, and in Colchester, a Polish village.
Complete information about each village can be found on the official Carrousel of the Nations website. This year's dates are June 17 to 19, then June 24 to 26.