A southeastern Manitoba multicultural festival is bringing communities together to showcase their traditions.

Culturama at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre in Steinbach has grown into a six-day festival since it began six years ago.

Pat Porter executive director Audrey Harder said the event originally was three days long and featured prominent cultures in the city, including the Filipino and Ukrainian communities.

“We are such a diverse community, and I don’t think people realize it,” Harder said on Thursday. “My goal was to see community gather and accept and understand and just grow.”

Since then, other cultural groups have reached out to participate. This year, attendees could visit Ukraine, the Philippines, South Korea, Nigeria, Brazil, India and Cuba without leaving Steinbach.

This is Ruth Olorunfemi’s second year volunteering with the Nigerian group. She moved from Nigeria to Steinbach in 2023 because she has cousins and a sibling here.

“Since we are from different parts of the world, we come to be in Canada here just to express our own nationality, how our traditions work,” Olorunfemi said while setting up a floral display. “That’s what Culturama is all about.”

Olorunfemi says Steinbach is like home already because of the friendly environment.

Last year, she enjoyed learning about Fijian customs and tasting their food.

“It’s a unique way to let them know how you were brought up, how you can teach them where you are from, how they can learn from you … and try to learn from their culture also,” Olorunfemi said.

Olorunfemi would love to see the festival continue growing to include even more cultural groups.

Folklorama is inspiring to Harder, but not everyone is able to make it to Winnipeg to get that experience.

Cultural understanding is a personal thing, she said.

“I see it as an opportunity for the community to unite and become one. No matter where you’re from, who you are, you love your neighbour,” Harder said.

“At the end of the day, that understanding is there, that love is there, and we become one as a community.”

Program co-ordinator Carla Walker says the groups that present often bring cultural clothing for Harder and her to wear during the evening.

On Wednesday, Walker was helped into a hanbok, an article of traditional Korean clothing. The hanbok had been worn by one of the participants for her wedding.

“It was quite an honour to be able to do that,” Walker said. “I thanked her and said what an honour it was. She had said to me, ‘It was quite an honour for us, for you to do that.'”

Walker hopes those who attend the festival feel like they’ve stepped into the country they’re learning about.

“It’s been a really beautiful response from the community each night,” Walker said. “We’ve been just packed in our gym, and I’ve been really excited about that.”

Walker and Harder say tickets have sold out almost every night.

All money from ticket sales go back to the participating groups to cover costs of things like food. Remaining funds are rolled over to support the festival next year.

The final night of Culturama takes place Saturday, with a glimpse into Cuba.