The Festival des Traditions du Monde (FTMS) is back for its 22nd edition in Sherbrooke at Quintal park. From August 7 to 11, visitors of all ages are invited to travel around the world in only five days. The FTMS’s diverse menu offers over 150 performances, workshops, and activities, 17 international restaurants, 70 exhibitors and artisans, an educational and entertaining family zone, and much more.
“We started out very small 23 years ago, and I don’t think any of us could have anticipated how much we would grow,” said the FTMS executive director Malika Bajjaje to a festive crowd on July 23. Bajjaje’s involvement with the festival dates back to its first year, first as an artisan, then as a fashion show coordinator, and as creator of the Palais de l’Orient before eventually becoming president of the board of directors. “Malika has spent many years dedicating herself to the recognition, the exchange, and the discovery of cultures,” explained Sherbrooke Mayor Steve Lussier. “There is no better place than Sherbrooke to host such a multicultural celebration, as we have over 135 cultural communities living in harmony here.” Nine outdoor and indoor stages will host the artistic program, including three thematic pavilions. The Palais de l’Orient, the Pub Irlandais, and the Shack d’Amérique are all back for the 2019 edition, in which visitors will experience a cultural immersion, with its distinctive décor and programs. See full story in the Friday, July 26 edition of The Outlet.
Festival des Traditions du Monde: Around the world in five days
By Emilie Hackett, Special to The Outlet
