This year’s festival features an incredible lineup of artists who will have you dancing, grooving, and soaking in the beauty of global traditions.
On-Stage Performances
• Christin Dennis, Knowledge Carrier & Artist ~ Opening ceremony with traditional drumming & flute
• Culture Philippines of Ontario ~ music and dance
• El Ceibo ~ Argentinian folk band
• KOREXION ~ Juno award-winning Reggae vibes from Jamaica
• Los Hijos de Tuta ~ Lively Colombian cumbia beats
• Two Families Band ~ Ukrainian folk meets modern flair
• Tracy Lee ~ Connection to the Queen's Bush Settlement with soulful jazz and gospel
• MOKA Band ~ Caribbean calypso, soca, reggae, and more
• Peg and Darrel Mennonite Duo ~ Traditional Mennonite music
• Nii Osabu ~ Ghanaian Band bringing afrobeats and traditional African music
Cuisines from Around the World:
• Las Mexicanas ~ Food Truck ft. Mexican cuisine, including tacos, quesadillas, quesabirrias, gringas, suizas and enchiladas
• Lola Liza Foods Inc. ~ Flavours of the Philippines, including pork and chicken BBQ, lumpiang Shanghai (pork or veggie spring rolls), kwek kwek (fried quail eggs), embutido (pork meat loaf), leche flan, siu mai, pancit and more.
• A Spice Affair ~ A wide selection of premium spice blends
• Canada Waterloo Chinese Traders Federation ~ Taiwanese organization serving up spring onion pancakes
• Flame House Grill ~ Local Indian restaurant selling popular dishes, including Himalayan momo, samosa, Indian masala tea, mango lassi, butter chicken, rice/naan bread, biryani, and noodles
• Kitchen Bride Catering and Events Management ~ Nigerian catering company offering snacks and finger foods like peppered gizzard, mears, beef patties, egg roll, spring roll, samosa, fish roll, puffpuff, and ice cream
• Howlingmoon Catering and Arts ~ Indigenous Chef specialities, including First Nations tacos and cookies, and strawberry drink, and bison loose meat burger
• Local Renaissance Coffee ~ Get your coffee and lemonade fix offered by this local coffee shop
Cultures United:
Discover traditions, artistry, and delicious flavours from around the world—brought to life by local residents sharing their heritage.
🔸 Bangladeshi Culture
• Traditional sarees, dhotis, and wedding headgear
• Bamboo handfans, dance masks, potochitra (tapestry art), terracotta and dokra metalwork figures
• Tastes: Shingara, Patishapta
🔸 Assamese Culture (India)
• Traditional dress and cultural artifacts
• Tastes: Traditional Assamese sweets
🔸 Pakistan
• Shalwar Kameez, waistcoats, and cultural crafts and artifacts
• Tastes:
– Sohan Halwa, Rabri (contain dairy and nuts)
– Biryani, Nehari (contain meat and rice)
– Chickpea dish (plant-based)
🔸 Romania
• Traditional clothing, handmade embroidery, books, crafts, and tablecloths
• Tastes: Romanian chocolate cookies and local cakes
🔸 First Nations
• Ribbon shirts, beaded jewelry, and sacred items (drum, smudge fan, pipe, etc.)
• Medicine Bundle and handcrafted items from "The Creator’s Shelf"
• Tastes: Ham & Scone (Fry Bread), Strawberry Juice
🔸 Guyana
• Cultural items: wooden map, bracelets, and belt
• Tastes: Black eye cake, Pine tart, Red bread
🔸 Turkish/Turkic Cultures
• Traditional clothing, fabrics, tapestries, books, and cultural artifacts from multiple Turkic regions
• Tastes:
– Turkish Delight (vegan, with/without nuts)
– Cookies, Pismaniye (wheat-based sweets)
– Possible serving of Turkish tea
🔸 Persian Culture
• Persian clothing, Haft-Seen display, pottery, copperware, carpets, calligraphy, poetry books, and children’s colouring pages
• Tastes: Nan-e Berenji (gluten-free rice flour cookies; may contain egg)
Community Art Project:
This year, we're excited to welcome Indigenous artist Jen Horst who will lead a community art mural painting that she has designed just for our festival! The mural will then be on permanent display at the Waterloo Region Library - Breslau branch for all to admire.
Make sure to take part in these FREE activities and service booths:
• Lacrosse demonstration and teachings from Indigenous leader, Kevin Sandy
• Indigenous hair stylist, Connie Roy, will be offering a hair braiding station at a minimal fee
• Mennonite Story tent providing products, literature, and garments to teach you about Mennonite culture and traditions
• The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery will have some fun diversity-related activities in their tent
• Henna Art brought to you by our MFE Youth Ambassadors
• Madhubani Art workshop, offered by Bangladeshi artist Moumita
• Try your hand at Origami with Japanese community member Yoko
• Face Painting
• TAEO Mental Health First Aid tent bringing you tips, advice and care during the festival
• Elmira District Community Living's E-bike Accessible Ride will take you around the neighbourhood
The festival also includes market vendor and information booths, and so much more!
For more information on attendance, volunteering and sponsorship, please contact
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Help us spread the word and see you there!
Also check out other Arts events in Elmira, Festivals in Elmira, Music events in Elmira.
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