Spruce Meadows is the new home for GlobalFest after a 24-year run at Elliston Park. The southwest location has plenty of space and infrastructure to host world class events and is now adding the annual international fireworks festival to it’s list. “I think it’s an exquisite fit,” said Ian Allison, Spruce Meadows senior vice-president. “You know Spruce Meadows has evolved over the last half century into a sports and entertainment district and it’s very much as a welcoming place for people from all walks of life, from all over the world, whether they be horses or athletes or fans.” Allison says the venue is able to create an experience for GlobalFest visitors through international cuisine and entertainment prior to and after the 20- minute-long fireworks show. “It really is a world class exposition,” he said. “And when you have the weather on your side, the music was great and then each evening with a different cultural celebration, you get that little extra flair if you will.” Laura MacFarlane, ShowPass marketing and event organizer says the goal was to elevate the experience for visitors for the four-day event. “We now have a drone show and it’s Alberta’s biggest ever with over 600 drones,” she said. “So that’s going to be lighting up the sky every single night and each night will be themed for that specific country and it’s really incredible to see.” MacFarlane says the night doesn’t end with the fireworks and visitors who choose to stay don’t have to deal with traffic congestion. “We do have some live performances right after the fireworks on the main stage,” she said. “So people can still hang out and enjoy the rest of their night and not feel the need to rush out and that kind of gives the opportunity to leave at your own pace and drive home safely.” Organizers have brought in celebrity chefs to host events in the Horizon’s tent on the grounds. Aaron Sanchez is making his first trip to Calgary and cheering on Mexico for the Aug. 28 show. “Yesterday it was all about Japan, tomorrow’s about Italy so I’m so privileged and so honored to represent Mexico,” he said. “A beautiful culinary destination that has so much deep roots in people’s appetites and in their hearts so I’m just really stoked to be here.” Sanchez says he’ll be meeting a lot of people during his time at the festival and making a great lunch for team Mexico along with judging a food truck competition. “We’re living in the era of the foodie,” he said. “What’s happening now is that you’re seeing all these ingredients kind of migrate from the south to the north and you’re getting people that might be from Mexico that set up shop here in Calgary in Canada and they bring with them their traditions and their recipes and so now you’re starting to see a real, more authentic sort of approach to Mexican food.” Kelly Guille, Arcangel Fireworks Inc., is the man with 34 years of experience bringing the ideas of the different countries fireworks displays to reality. He has a team of 15 working on a compressed schedule to get the shows ready each night. “These shows this year are back to back,” he said. “Which means we don’t have multiple days to get them in the ground so we’ve got a lot of extra equipment, a little more than we would have in previous years with GlobalFest, as they used to be spaced out two days.” But he says there’s a lot packed into each show to wow the audience. “Well, I was just told by a couple people that it was the best show they’d ever seen,” he said. “They said it was like they were inside the fireworks so when you hear that, then I’ve got to think yeah, this is world class.” Learn more about the festival here: https://www.globalfest.ca/
