Tom Henihan
Express Staff
This year’s pirate theme was certainly on full display at the 36th annual, Carnaval de St. Isidore held on the Family Day long weekend.
With such an abundance of pirate motifs and so many people in pirate costume, it would have been of little surprise if Captain Jack Sparrow had made a cameo appearance.
Contained within the pirate theme were many of the Carnaval’s perennial favourites including snow sculpting, hayrides, bonfire, fireworks, maze, games and tobogganing.
There was also an adult and kids geo-cache treasure hunt, beer gardens, bar and naturally, excellent French Canadian Food including caribou, poutine and maple taffy.
The indoor events included numerous Francophone musical entertainers, dancing and comedy. A beard contest was also on the schedule to the obvious enjoyment of the audience.
Unlike recent years, when it was a little warm for ice sculpting and other winter activities, this year’s event was blessed with weather cold enough to keep the sculptures intact and at the same time create a perfect winter carnaval atmosphere, without being too cold to enjoy the outdoor events.
The annual three-day celebration has offered an authentic Franco-Albertan cultural event since 1982. While the Carnaval de St-Isidore has remained true to its traditional roots, preserving its core, northern Albertan ambience, it also continues to reinvent itself by incorporating contemporary musical and cultural francophone acts and entertainment each year.
