We thought that it would be nice to give a mini recap of all the major events that we hosted so far this year!
IRAL Winter Fest
IRAL Winter Fest, a festival dedicated to showcasing the artistic talents of the minority youth was a hit in Steinbach. The community really came through to support in everyway that they could making it a really unique experience. From the snow sculptures, to the food, the entertainment, and to the igloo heated tent, it was a great time.
Sponsors/Collaborators/Community Supporters:
@o_canadiana (Canadian Heritage)
@africanad_official (Africanad)
@solomons.furniture (Solomon Furniture)
@eastmanis (Eastman Immigrants Services)
@steinbachchamber (Steinbach Chamber of Commerce)
Mix 96.7fm (Steinbach Radio) @mix96.7fm
Omega Electric
News/Interview Links:
https://steinbachonline.com/articles/steinbach-s-main-street-is-heating-up-with-iral-winter-fest
https://anchor.fm/u-multicultural/episodes/U-Talk-S2E44-Winter-Fest-e1f8cg4
https://u-channel.ca/new-winter-festival-kicks-off-in-steinbach/
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/local/2022/03/04/reggae-festival-debuts-in-steinbach
IRAL Colour Fest-Steinbach
Our first IRAL Colour Fest started in Steinbach all while battling the major connection outage that affected Canadians nationally. Although the systems were down, we still had a lot of fun and for those who came out, they enjoyed the event that showcased the art as well as leaving everyone a bit more colorful than they came! It was great to see the smiles on every ones faces and amazing to see the colour explosion as powder was thrown about. Once again the community really pulled through to make this an enjoyable event:
Sponsors/Collaborators/Community Supporters:
@o_canadiana (Canadian Heritage)
@mbartscouncil (Manitoba Arts Council)
@daysinn_steinbach (Days Inn-Steinbach)
Mix 96.7fm (Steinbach Radio) @mix96.7fm
Omega Electric
News/Interview Links:
https://steinbachonline.com/articles/iral-colour-fest-total-fun-for-everyone
https://steinbachonline.com/articles/fun-friday-evening-with-iral-colour-fest-in-steinbach-
IRAL Summer Jam Fest-Hill Top Resort
IRAL Summer Jam Fest at the Hill Top Resort was just so much fun! From the outdoor, lush green wilderness, to tenting under the stars; we could take the trail for a nature walk to listen to the birds and the bees, jump on the quad for a quick ride, or enjoy the DJ beachside with games and further entertainment during the day made you feel like you were catching the essence of the Caribbean. The evening sunset added to the ambiance and was perfect for families and lucky lovers to enjoy. Our local artists took to the stage as they burst into the stars of the moment to the delight of the audience. They then got the chance to experience a featured international act, the Queen of Soca and world-renowned, Alison Hinds. Special thanks goes out to the Hill Top Resort as you have giving our festival a home and the ability to carry out it's vision to the fullest as well as beyond. We cannot wait for 2023 as it will be amazing!
Sponsors/Collaborators/Community Supporters:
@o_canadiana (Canadian Heritage)
@hilltopresortman (Hill Top Resort)
@daysinn_steinbach (Days Inn-Steinbach)
@africanad_official (Africanad)
Omega Electric
@bhmwinnipeg (Black History Manitoba)
@fivestarbuslines (Five Star Bus Lines)
@manitobamusic (Manitoba Music)
News/Interview Links:
IRAL Summer Jam Fest-Brandon
The IRAL Summer Jam Fest located at the Riverbank Discovery Centre finally happened this year after so many years of waiting, we were finally able to give Brandon a show. For those who came out, the feedback was positive and we look forward to making the Riverbank Discovery Centre our home every year!
Sponsors/Collaborators/Community Supporters:
@o_canadiana (Canadian Heritage)
@cityofbrandon (City of Brandon)
@africanad_official (Africanad)
@fivestarbuslines (Five Star Bus Lines)
@manitobamusic (Manitoba Music)
Omega Electric
News/Interview Links:
https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2022/07/04/riverbank-set-to-host-reggae-festival
https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2022/07/30/city-hosts-caribbean-music-festival
https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2022/08/03/long-weekend-festivals-draw-big-crowds
IRAL Colour Fest-Brandon
We also combined our colour fest to happen the same day as the summer festival; although next year we will definitely be coming out twice, for those who wanted to be a bit more colourful than normal, they sure had an amazing time.
Sponsors/Collaborators/Community Supporters:
@o_canadiana (Canadian Heritage)
@mbartscouncil (Manitoba Arts Council)
Omega Electric
What a year 2022 has been so far!
As we come to the end of this years activities, we must say certainly and want to give a huge shoutout to all our fans and supporters; whether you were actively performing on stage, spreading the love for music and arts or a hard working volunteer, we really appreciate you. To our sponsors, funders, donors, and festival goers, a heart to heart thanks goes out to you. We are already working on how to bring the 2023 series of festivals and activities to you on a higher level as we believe that we will be more grounded in our execution and connectivity with our community and businesses. With this we say one love, walk good and keep watching IRAL for amazing things ahead.
Cheers!