Yorkton came alive Thursday evening as Downtown CultureFest returned for its sixth year, with opening night dedicated to celebrating Indigenous cultures. People from all walks of life gathered at City Centre Park to take in the festivities, which featured cultural performances, educational experiences, shopping booths and food tastings, including bannock and boulette soup. “It’s the first Downtown CultureFest of the year,” said Kaitlyn Kitzan, executive director of the Yorkton Business Improvement District (YBID), who is in charge of organizing the event series. “It happens every Thursday in June, and we’re kicking off this year with Indigenous culture.” On opening night, visitors could immerse themselves in First Nations and Métis cultures through a range of performances and interactive learning opportunities. Kitzan said the event is designed to bring the community together while highlighting the diversity of cultures in Yorkton. “It’s just a really good, family-friendly event,” she said. “We see babies in strollers, we see 80-year-olds with canes. It’s all ages coming together.” Each week of CultureFest will spotlight a different culture. It continues next Thursday, June 11, highlighting “Spirit of Ukraine” from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. On June 18, Yorkton will embark on a cultural journey titled “Philippine Culture and Vibrant India,” and the event series concludes on June 25 with “Jamaica Vibes and Youth Celebration Extravaganza.” Now in its sixth year, Kitzan said the event continues to grow. “Every single year it’s getting bigger and bigger, and we’re almost outgrowing City Centre Park,” she said. Organizers rely on cultural leaders from within the community to help shape each week’s programming. While YBID coordinates elements like food trucks, games, and entertainment infrastructure, cultural groups lead the performances and educational components. Kitzan said the festival is about more than entertainment. It is also an opportunity for residents to learn about one another. “Our demographics in our community have changed so much, and it’s an opportunity to learn and appreciate different cultures,” she said. Kitzan added that events like CultureFest have become especially meaningful in recent years. “Since the pandemic, I feel like we’ve missed that human connection. I love seeing our community come out, support each other, and just be together again,” she said.
