THE FEST TEST
What’s your Saskatoon summer festival IQ?
Saskatoon comes alive in the summer with more than a dozen festivals filled with music, dance, culture, theatre and art.
The oldest is the Saskatoon Exhibition, dating back to 1886. One of the newest, Rock the River, is already in its fourth edition.
Our festivals are all over the map, literally, and in what they offer. But most include both ticketed and free events with the aim of making them as accessible as possible.
Look for some changes this year in festival land. The Potash Corp Children’s Festival of Saskatchewan makes a big move from Kiwanis Park downtown to a few blocks north at Kinsmen Park. The Sask Tel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is moving its free stage from Friendship Park due to construction on the new Traffic Bridge. It will be located north of the Bessborough Hotel where the skating rink is set up in the winter. And Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan will re-arrange its site, putting the main stage tent farther back from the roadway where it’s a bit quieter.
And now for some fun. Find out how much you know about Saskatoon’s festivals by taking this skilltesting quiz.
1. Things you can do at the Children’s Festival:
a) Find fossils b) Build Lego c) Tug-o-war d) Skydiving
2. The activities at this year’s Saskatoon Pride Festival don’t include:
a) Second Chance Prom b) Beach Volleyball Day c) Welcome to the Gaybourhood BBQ d) Family Swim Day
3. Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan’s tents are:
a) Red and white b) Black and white c) White d) None of the above
4. Entertainment at Taste of Saskatchewan is provided by:
a) Taped music b) The Saskatoon Theremin Players c) 14 Barbershop quintets d) More than 50 local bands
5. At Ribfest, the pit boss uses a “mop” for:
a) Cleaning the grill b) Applying barbecue sauce c) Crowd control d) The dance competition
6. At the John Arcand Fiddle Fest, a major fundraiser helped pay for:
a) Assigned seating b) A Jumbotron c) A zip line d) A roof
7. The very first act at the very first Rock the River in 2014 was:
a) Doug and the Slugs b) Headpins c) Sweet d) Streetheart
8. The Potash Corp Fireworks Festival takes place on the weekend of:
a) Victoria Day b) Canada Day c) Saskatchewan Day d) Labour Day
9. The Western Development Museum’s Pion-Era event has been running since:
a) 1955 b) 1963 c) 1978 d) 2000
10. All of these are real titles of former shows at the Potash Corp Fringe Theatre and Street Festival, except:
a) 2 Ruby Knockers, 1 Jaded Dick b) Magic Unicorn Island c) The Cucamonga Lounge and Hotel d) Puppies! Puppies! Puppies!
11. The Saskatoon Ex is the only event in the city where you can:
a) Watch Johnny Reid while eating a Spudnut b) Ride the Wacky Worm after watching the annual Ex parade c) Watch Bendy Em the contortionist fit herself inside a small clear box d) All of the above
12. The following countries have all been Saskatoon Folkfest pavilions, except:
a) Australia b) England/Wales c) Luxembourg d) Nepal 13. Ukrainian Day in the Park allows
visitors to experience several traditional tastes, but not:
a) Ruslana b) Varenyky c) Borscht d) Kovbasa
14. The Word on the Street Festival is a fun event that promotes:
a) Pavement b) Dictionaries c) Old-school hip hop d) Books and authors of all kinds
15. This year’s Canada Remembers Salute to Heroes air show takes place near:
a) Dalmeny b) Dundurn c) Duck Lake d) Davidson
16. Nuit Blanche Saskatoon is based on an event that started in:
a) Montreal b) Nantes, France c) Milan, Italy d) New York City
17. If you want a festival experience elsewhere in the province you might try:
a) Country Thunder (formerly the Craven Country Jamboree) b) Ness Creek Music Festival c) Regina Folk Festival d) All of the above
Answers: 1. a),b), c). 2. b) 3. c) 4. d) 5.b) 6. d) 7. a) 8. d) 9. a) 10. d) 11. d) 12. c) 13. a) Ruslana is actually a Eurovision Song Contest winning artist and former MP in Ukrainian Parliament. 14. d) 15. b) 16. b) 17. d)