Cathedral Village Arts Festival celebrates 25 years

Thousands of people packed 13th Avenue on Saturday for the street fair that ends the Cathedral Village Arts Festival.

Festival-goers browsed the shops and food trucks that lined 13th Avenue from Albert Street, all the way to Elphinstone. The largest crowds were drawn to a group of dancers showing off their skills. 

Though the clouds threatened rain for most of the day people seemed to be enjoying themselves. Asked about her favourite part this year, one woman replied “the buskers: the musicians, the Highland dancers, and the didgeridoo.”

Several people were happy that the street fair had more space to spread out in this year. “It’s huge this year. Last year I remember it was only another two or three blocks, this year it’s down all the way from Albert to Elphinstone.”

Despite the extra space, the streets were still packed – some years up to 45,000 people have attended the fair, according to the festival’s chair. 

Besides the activities on the street, there was also wide open space set up in Holy Rosary Park, complete with a “quidditch pitch” and fencing demonstrations.

This is the festival’s 25th year, and the street fair was the culmination to dozens of free performances and activities in the week preceding.