Culture Days Manitoba event coordinator Kurt tittlemier gave a presentation at the Portage Regional Library Friday.

"We were doing a presentation about different rural events in Manitoba, and just generally introducing many people in the community in Portage to Culture Days -- our concept of our festival. Portage, I'd say for the last five or six years, has had a few events take place in Culture Days. And were contacted by Yvette locally, and that she was introduced in putting together a couple different people together, and making it open to anyone to join., kind of a hub of cultural events this year. And we were really enthusiastic as we always are when people will contact us. So, we just came and did a presentation, trying to spread it to as many people as possible. Its' free for anyone to go to the event and also to participate. If they're a cultural animator of some kind, from anything from visual arts, to fine arts, to athletics, to heritage, to architecture -- we're interested in really taking a portion of Portage in collaboration with the community, and animate it."

He outlines what Culture Days Manitoba offers.

"We provide materials, and we're a national organization. We have a partnership with Bell Media, so we provide promotion, and help get the word out -- kind of like a big mouthpiece in that way. We have a webpage, and anyone can register an event at any time. And it instantly goes live, and free of charge. We have very active social media, in all the media outlets. That's the main piece that we provide. And also we help with coordination and help organize kind of like a nested network, because it really has to be a community network."

Tittlemier says the celebration's growing in the province.

"It's gaining more ground. We have shown significant growth in Manitoba, and also nationally. An interesting thing is Winnipeg has been number one nationally for cultural events, and also Flin Flon has been in the top four I believe that last three or four years, which is pretty remarkable that both of them are in our province. I think it really says something about Manitobans really being interested in this. They rate those numbers by the number events. Sometimes people put a small event like they're going to open up their house and show drawings that they did, and the next event might be a symphony orchestra playing with hundreds of people. Throughout Culture Days we consider each one an event. This year it's September 30th, October 1st, and October 2nd -- Friday, Saturday, and Sunday."

Celebrate the Night organizer Yvette Cuthbert says it involves a variety of arts.

"Culture Days is all about bringing people together, and celebrating all our various talents and things that we do, that make our lives worth living, sort of thing. Whether it's fine arts, like performance music, dancing, artistic things that you do visually, or hockey, of course. That's huge in our town, or knitting, canning, you name it. So, I'm really trying to get as many people in the community involved, as many organizations involved."

She outlines her current ideas.

"I'm really focusing on October 1st in the evening for a big night festival type of thing, because I think it would be great fun. And it also brings your town alive, and it can connect other venues. So, I've got Vopni Park booked, and Convention Corner booked. I'm trying to find out who the owner of the old Portage Hotel site is so I can see if we can tromp across their spot and project on the walls and things that are by them. I'm just trying to get as many people interested in having a great community involved festival for Culture Days."

She notes the steps that have already been taken.

"I applied for a couple of grants, and we'll see how those come. I've reached out to he high school band teacher -- they're interested; Ed Goertzen, various musicians in town, the Ukrainian Dance Group is interested, and the more people I can get like that, it's wonderful. The Portage Day Cares, they're for it; Salvation Army, because I'm trying to do it around the alley behind the MCC, and stuff like that. I think it'd be a real fun night. The City said they don't see a problem with me borrowing Christmas lights to light things up, and lots of possibilities."

Cuthbert adds, "I would love for as many people to contact me as possible, or have an idea, or are interested, or would like to volunteer, or just help make it all happen."

You Contact Celebrate the Night, Portage la Prairie on Facebook, or email to yvette.cuthbert@gmail.com and you can also call (204) 856-7923.

Culture Days Manitoba's website is: mb.culturedays.ca