Congratulations to the City of Surrey and MRG Events for their spectacular work on the Surrey Fusion Festival, an immersive cultural extravaganza that showcases the diverse heritage and vibrant spirit of the community. Your commitment to celebrating diversity and fostering community truly shines through.
Surrey Fusion Festival is a wide-reaching, free, family-friendly community celebration of the many different cultures that make up the diverse population of Surrey. Hosted each year in Holland Park, the highlight of the event is the 45+ Cultural Pavilions, which serve a variety of food options native to their culture and feature art and education from their country of origin. In 2022, 8 performance areas showcased music and dance worldwide, culminating in headlining performances on the Main Stage by Manila Grey, Shad, Sharry Mann & Zora Randhawa.
It is the festival’s mandate to provide ample opportunities for attendees to learn and engage with different cultural activities during the event, including participating in dance lessons, learning how to cook cultural cuisine, and learning about local businesses and not-for-profit organizations. The festival has something for everyone and provides attendees with a safe space to try new cuisine, experience and learn about other cultures, and spend time with friends and family.
In 2022, the theme for the Fusion Festival was CommUNITY, which was embodied throughout the site by creating spaces for gathering, whether to eat, dance, or rest in the relaxation zone in the forest. Perhaps the most visible embodiment of CommUNITY, however, was the Parade of Culture, which occurred on Saturday, July 23. Each pavilion sent representatives in cultural dress to carry their country’s flag, and the parade made its way across the site from the Celebration Stage to the Main Stage in a colourful display of unity.
In addition, the site included representation by entertainers and participants of all ages. One of 2022’s new features was the cooking stage, which hosted exciting cooking battles presented by youth services, as well as demonstrations of cultural recipes that would be enjoyed at community gatherings presented by local chefs.