Entertainers from across Canada’s cultural mosaic will be helping to celebrate the nation’s birthday.
The New Westminster Philippine Festival Society is hard at work organizing the third annual New West Multicultural festival that’s taking place on Saturday, July 1 at Westminster Pier Park. The festival aims to celebrate the rich cultural diversity that exists in New Westminster – and Canada’s 150th birthday.
“This is our third year presenting this multicultural festival in New West,” said Salve Dayao, the society’s president. “It’s going to be magical. We have a very good cultural performances lined up.”
The free, family-friendly festival includes dance and vocal performances by artists from the First Nations of Canada, Japan, Philippines, China, Sudan, Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, India, Polynesia, Kenya, Ireland, Caribbean, Romania, Ethiopia, Italy, Mexico, Spain and other countries.
“Because it is a multicultural event, we welcome everyone. This is the 150th birthday of Canada. Let’s showcase our own culture as a gift to the country that adopted us,” Dayao said. “It’s time to give back. We have a variety of multicultural performances.”
The festival will kick off with free Zumba classes at Westminster Pier Park (9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. to noon; and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.). Along with entertainment beginning at 2 p.m., the festival includes vendors, a barbecue and visits from New West politicians.
“Come and join us. Let’s have a big party for Canada’s 150th birthday,” Dayao said. “Let’s all celebrate it with a big bang. It will be an exciting lineup of performers.”
Dayaosaid more than 5,000 people attended last year’s event and organizers are expecting a bigger crowd this year. A live band will be performing hits from the 1960s to today from 8 to 10 p.m.
“The last two hours of the event, prior to the fireworks, will be public dancing,” Dayao said. “I said we will make this into a big 150 birthday of Canada and we will have a big party there.”
For more information, visit the New West Multicultural Festival 2017 page on Facebook.
