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WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Cultural Celebration

Brought to you by the City of Calgary

A multi-day festival kicks off August 29, 2009 at Olympic Plaza with the opening of an Artisan Village and an exciting stage show featuring both emerging and established artists in music, dance, visual arts and theatre from Calgary, Alberta and across Canada.

Then throughout the week, the cultural party, with buskers, roving performers and local artisans, will continue in the downtown core and at Stampede Park - home of WorldSkills Calgary 2009 - culminating with a final stage show at
Olympic Plaza on September 5.

The event schedule is as follows:

Kick-off Concert, Olympic Plaza
Aug. 29 3 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Kick off our week-long WorldSkills Cultural Celebration at Olympic Plaza. Come down for a day of live music, buskers and roving entertainment.

Artisan Village, Olympic Plaza
Aug. 29 12 noon - 6 p.m
Aug. 30 12 noon - 4 p.m.
Aug. 31 - Sept. 4 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sept. 5 12 noon - 6 p.m.
Artisan Village features a host of talented local artists and their crafts. Watch them create their masterpieces before your eyes with live demonstrations of pottery, weaving, sculpting and guitar-making.

Juggling Sunday, Olympic Plaza
Aug. 30 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
If you're an accountant, an amateur or professional juggler, we invite you to the plaza to juggle your favorite items in the air. Bring your juggling balls, or any WorldSkills-related object. Young, old, small or tall, come down so we can fill the plaza with pure fun!

Coca Cola Stage, Stampede Park
Sept. 2 - Sept. 5 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Music lovers will enjoy a new musical theme every day, including country, roots, blues, hip-hop, b-box, ethno-pop, indie and folk.

Celebration Spectacular, Olympic Plaza
Sept. 5
Small stage performances 3 p.m. - 6 p.m
Main stage concert 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
This carnival-themed concert features highflying aerial acts, jugglers, buskers, circus performers, spectacular percussion shows and music from around the world. Bring your friends and family to this grand finale to the City of Calgary WorldSkills Cultural Celebrations.

Not since the 1988 Olympic Winter Games has our city been able to show off like this to the international community. As details are finalized with the various performers and artisans, Calgarians and the thousands of WorldSkills Calgary 2009 guests who will be here for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration, will be able to experience up close the exciting talent that exists in Calgary and across Canada.

The City's Celebration of WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is not the only special event during the month of September. Beginning this year, Calgary is partnering with the entire local cultural community in declaring September "Culture Month" which will feature a number of different diverse events. Stay tuned for more updates.

View the City of Calgary's Website for activites happening in and around the city.