Water Ridge Park will fill with the sights and sounds of celebration as the first Humboldt Saskatchewan Filipino Music and Food Street Festival goes this July 23 and 24. The two-day celebration of Filipino music, food, dance, and culture that welcomes everyone to participate in a vibrant family oriented event. 

The weekend festival is an offshoot of the popular Saskatchewan Filipino Music and Food Festival held in Saskatoon last summer. The Saskatoon counterpart will be held for its sophomore season on August 5, 6 and 7. Organizer of the two events, Chris Rod, explains how the festival has come to Humboldt.

“We started the Festival in Saskatoon last year, and lots of Filipinos from different parts of Saskatchewan drove and took part in the Festival. What was suggested right after that was why don’t we bring the Festival to different parts of Saskatchewan. For this year, we had selected Humboldt because there is a good concentration in the Filipino community there from not only Humboldt but different parts of the area.

The organizers collaborated with Humboldt popular tattoo business, Humboldt Ink along with other businesses and is working in conjunction with the City of Humboldt to bring the festivities to the area. 

The title of the event says it all as the taste and music of the Philippines is served up for area residents. The stage will be rife with Filipino bands and performers throughout the weekend, and food vendors will be serving up some of the region’s favourites. Along with traditional staples such as the delicious spring rolls and noodles, Rod says there may be other new temptations awaiting,

“I think people will be amazed by the roasted pork that we are going to have out there during the festival.”

Rod explains that Filipinos are very family oriented, hence the Family Fun Day, scheduled for Sunday, complete with a bouncy castle, balloon artist, and face painting. He also reminds us of the Filipino community’s affinity for karaoke, so there will be plenty of opportunities on both days for people to step up to the mike and add to the joyous noise. He says prizes will most likely be involved. 

Rod is expecting the Filipino community from the area to be a strong presence but knows that many other area residents will come to enjoy the warm hospitality, music and food. 

“Hopefully this will be the first of many festivals that we’ll be hosting in Humboldt.”