Both Manitoba and Minnesota know how to throw a party. The question isn't whether we'd celebrate—it's how many celebrations we'd have.
Minnesota's Greatest Hits:
- Minnesota State Fair (late August-early September): 2 million+ visitors, cheese curds, everything on a stick, Miracle of Birth Center
- Winter Carnival (St. Paul): Ice palaces, parades, embracing the cold
- Aquatennial (Minneapolis): Summer festival, water-focused
Manitoba's Offerings:
- Festival du Voyageur (February): Largest winter festival in Western Canada, French-Canadian heritage, jigging, maple taffy
- Winnipeg Folk Festival (July): World-class music, camping, community
- Folklorama (August): Multicultural celebration, 40+ cultural pavilions
- Manito Ahbee (May): Indigenous arts and culture festival
The Beautiful Overlap:
Both regions embrace their winters rather than hide from them. Both celebrate multiculturalism. Both love summer festivals that bring communities together outdoors.
Partnership Possibilities:
- Festival Exchange Program: Artists, vendors, and performers rotating between Minnesota and Manitoba events
- Joint Winter Celebration: Combining Festival du Voyageur energy with Winter Carnival tradition
- Shared State/Provincial Fair: Alternate locations? Simultaneous linked events?
- New Traditions: What would we create together that neither has alone?
Discussion Questions:
- Which existing festivals should be officially "shared"?
- What new traditions should the partnership create?
- How do we prevent homogenization while encouraging exchange?
- Hotdish vs. casserole: Do we need a ruling, or can we coexist?