Festival preparations kick into high gear

WINNIPEG — It’s crunch time at Fort Gibraltar as the transformation into Festival grounds for Festival du Voyageur is in progress.

“We’re excited to get the party underway. The last few preparations are underway, but the team has things well in hand,” Festival du Voyageur’s executive director, Ginette Lavack Walters said.

The set up started at the beginning of January. This year, the most popular tent housing musicians and festival goers will be able to host 700 people, up from 500 last year.

“(It will have) more like a dance hall kind of a feel in there..for food we’re concentrating on things that are easy to eat with your hands,” said Lavack Walters.

International artists transform blocks of snow and ice into sculptures starting Wednesday for the international symposium.

A group of local sculptures has been working on their contribution to the grounds and estimate their creation will take 225 hours.

“It’s a process of removal, just throw away what you don’t need and we’re, as a team, everybody has their gifts they bring to the team,” said David MacNair.