An event that has grown in popularity since 2008 had a new time frame this year, and it looks as if it will be the same next year.
In past years, A Taste of Culture has been held at the same time as Agri-Mex, the Battlefords Agricultural Society's annual spring trade show. This year's event, the sixth annual, was moved to the end of May.
A Taste of Culture is presented annually by the Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre. It's a showcase of food and entertainment from around the world held at the Western Development Museum for the last three years after outgrowing the original venue of the Agrivilla, on the exhibition grounds.
The event had become so well attended (attracting approximately 3,000 people the last several years) that seating had become an issue. So, organizers decided to move the date to later in the year when the weather was warmer and they could use the Summer Hall, a large but unheated area of the museum, with seating for up to 400.
The end-of-May timing also meant more entertainment was available, says Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre executive director Jennifer Niesink, because the weeks leading up to Agri-Mex are busy with music and dance festivals.
There were many times the Summer Hall was full, says Niesink. Even more noticeable was the fact that many people stayed much longer. There were some patrons who remained "from noon 'til nine," she says, which she attributes to their being able to have more entertainment.
Previously, the entertainment was held in the Muse Theatre and the seating area was in the "eagle room," the lobby between the theatre and banquet hall where the food booths are located.
This year, they were able to add a marketplace where the seating had been last year, says Niesink, and it was a popular addition.
Plans are to again schedule next year's event at the end of May as a result of the success of this year's A Taste of Culture.
