The Carrousel of the Nations, the top-rated cultural event in Ontario, is off to a record-breaking start. The Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County’s extravaganza had a great turnout for the first two weeks of the event. It’s the 51st edition of the event. Last Friday through Sunday, an estimated 116,000 patrons attended one or more exhibits that showcase food, dance, art, and culture from all over the world. Forty-two unique cultural venues make up the roster of diverse sites throughout the region. It’s mostly run by community volunteers, but the direct residual economic benefits for the region positively impact hotel and hospitality, tourism, recreation, and entertainment industries in southwestern Ontario. For the MCC’s director of programs and development, Daniel Beliciu, this year’s edition of the event proves its longstanding support, popularity and staying power in the community. “So, everyone knows about Carousel of the Nations,” said Beliciu. “It’s becoming well known. Not just in Windsor, Essex County. And we’re really thrilled about that. We’ve marketed the festival really well and we’re starting to see, you know, visitors from all over Ontario and in Michigan as well.” Recent online traffic indicates that more than 1.6 million hits have been recorded in reference to the event. Next week, the Carrousel entertains patrons from Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21. It’s possible that once the tallies are in, that the total visitor count over the two weeks could approach a quarter of a million.
