Oshawa Fiesta parade full of flavour
Fiesta Week kicks off with sights, sounds and colours on Father’s Day
OSHAWA -- The streets of downtown Oshawa were lined on Sunday with residents, cheering on the floats, dancers, musicians and others taking part in the Father’s Day Grand Parade and Concert to kick off Fiesta Week.
Presented by the Oshawa Folk Arts Council, each year Fiesta Week sees local clubs open their doors and invite the public inside for a smorgasbord of food and entertainment. It features 16 pavilions this year.
The annual parade filled the streets with music, dance and a ton of energy, and featured more than 60 entries. The parade grand marshal was champion figure skater Elvis Stojko.
Craig Adamson and his daughter Shirley Adamson, 11, have been coming to the parade since they moved to Oshawa five years ago.
“We really enjoy it,” said Mr. Adamson. “It lets Shirley see the different cultures and stuff too.”
Shirley’s favourite part of the parade was all of the Fiesta princesses and mini misses, girls dressed in gorgeous gowns with sashes and tiaras, representing cultures from Italy to Romania to the Caribbean. But her interest didn’t stop at the crowns.
“I like seeing the dancers and I like the people with the (steel drums),” she said.
Charlene Mitchell says she’s been coming to the parade “since Day 1.” She looks forward to attending the pavilions each year, with some definite favourites.
“The same ones since I was a teenager, the Ukranian, the Italian,” she said.
For others, the parade is what they most look forward to at this time of year.
“This is what I love -- the music, the action,” said Leo Conway. “I’ve been living here for 15 years and I’ve been coming here for 15 years.”
Adriano Didanieli enjoyed seeing all of the different cultures making their way along the parade route.
“Their costumes are fantastic,” he said of some of the more elaborate costumes.
The Fiesta Concert followed after the parade at the Memorial Park Bandshell, where various pavilions provided entertainment and food.
Source: http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/5688609-oshawa-fiesta-parade-full-of-flavour/
June 22, 2015
Visit our webpage for a list of pavilion locations, show times and when you can stop in for lunch.
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