What’s happening?
The second annual On Your Block Multicultural Festival returns to New Westminster. It’s on Saturday, July 8 from 1 to 9 p.m. in Tipperary Park, 315 Queens Ave.
Efe Fruci, who founded the festival, said On Your Block: Where Everyone Belongs aims to be a fun, relaxing, welcoming, friendly community gathering.
What can you do at On Your Block?
Live entertainment, more than 50 local vendors and small businesses, arts and crafts and live painting are just some of the things happening at this year’s festival.
Who’s performing?
The entertainment lineup includes: Vince Ashton; DJ Oga Rossco; Sam Chimes; DJ Owabowa; DJ Andy; Rock ‘N’ Beau; Marcus De Lima; Ahsia; Enry Smith; The Sylvia Platters; Jennamae; Alite; Luc Lemans; Robert Billard & The Cold Calls; DJ Ice-B; Worst Kept Secret; Machinale of Social Medium. Tamami Maitland, Ian Wijesinghe, Colin Lovell; Shman, and Darrell Zimmerman are also scheduled to attend.
Fruci said the performers who will be taking to the stage are a mixture of folks who are coming from around the world, including France, the U.S., Nigeria, the U.K. and Canada.
“This year’s lineup once again is about fostering inclusiveness from our diverse artists, including local, unique performances from DJs playing Afrobeat, current and British hits, European French vibes, as well as vinyl classics; all of which is guarantee to get your body moving and invite you to open up room for more joy as you allow the sound of beautiful rhythm to guide your steps,” she said in an email to the Record. “We also have angelic sounds bursting from beautiful vocals from singers with gospel sounds, and bands taking us on a classical, rock, hip hop and RnB journey. All of which is not to be missed.”
Fruci said she is personally excited about all aspects of the festival, including the chance to dance outdoors.
“I am excited to gather again with all our festival teams, volunteers and incredible humans who have collaborated with me to curate this special day for our beautiful city,” she said. “It brings me so much joy and happiness seeing us all hanging and building intentional spaces outside again.”
Did someone say “dance party”?
Kids had so much fun showing off their moves at last year’s On Your Block festival that organizers decided to hold a special kid’s dance party as part of this year’s event. Kids will be invited on stage from 2:30 to 3 p.m. to join in on a dance party led by dance director Rock’N’Beau and to show off their moves.
What is the festival all about?
The goal of On the Block is to bring communities together in a safe space and to promote unity, collaboration, togetherness and community.
“On Your Block festival is where everyone belongs. It’s a day of celebration; celebrating the amazing diversity in our city and community, including businesses, vendors, musicians, food trucks, and creatives,” Fruci said. “It’s about coming together and celebrating each other and all the beautiful things that makes us unique and still connects us together.”
Fruci believes the goodness of the On Your Block festival is limitless.
“It’s about cultivating new friendships, perhaps meeting a new friend or business you may want to explore collaborating with or learn about something new through meaningful conversations throughout the day,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to come out into the city, meet new people, dance, eat and support local.”
How did it get started?
On Your Block Festival is organized by Odihi, a non-profit that provides access to education and creates career opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) girls and women. The organization offers free programs and mentorship, and organizes events that directly supports its community of women.
Odihi was a finalist for the 2022 Platinum Awards in New Westminster, in the Not for Profit of the Year category.
Fruci, founder and CEO of Odihi, spearheaded the festival as an extension of the non-profit’s efforts to bring people from different backgrounds and cultures together and foster belonging. The idea was to create a cultural festival where community members could engage and connect over food, live music, local entertainment, children’s activities and more.
