Carabram, Brampton’s Multicultural Festival has expanded. This year they included a central site at South Fletcher’s Sportsplex, to showcase additional cultures, music and food as well as an International Bazaar. In addition, The World of Food Pavilion was part of the central site as well an International Market Bazaar with artisans and commercial vendors from Arabia, Latin America, Pakistan, Hawaii, Ukraine and Nepal.

A small stage was set up to present music, dance and songs, as well as demonstrations including Ted Talk style presentation. The Main stage, beside World of Food, continued to showcase top entertainment from around the world.

Carabram, Canada’s oldest cultural festival was on July 13, 14, and 15 at eight venues across the city. In addition to the new South Fletcher’s site, there were pavilions located throughout the city. Canada returned to the UNIFOR Local 1285 Hall,

Caribbean and China were at Chris Gibson Recreation Centre. The rhythm of the islands, the pulsating beats of the drums and the steel band made the audiences sway to the reggae music and whine to the calypso singers. At the China Pavilion, entertainment   included Lion Dance , Kung Fu (Wushu), Qipao fashion show, GuZheng (Chinese Zither), Tai Chi and Taekwondo.

 Eelam was at the Brampton Soccer Centre. The highlight of this year’s Eelam pavilion was a live musical entertainment throughout the festival by world famous Tamil artist Nirujan, alongside music troupes Mega Tuner and Bharathi Arts.

India  at the Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre, Ireland  returned to Lions Hall on Avondale Rd., Philippines and Punjab were at Century Gardens Recreation Centre, and Portugal was at the Vasco da Gama Cultural Centre.

“We are so fortunate to have such a diverse community and Carabram allows our visitors to not only celebrate their own culture but to also appreciate and learn about other cultures that contribute to the diverse makeup of our city,” says Carabram President Angela Johnson.

Conceived in 1982, Carabram is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, development and promotion of the diverse ethnic communities in Brampton. Carabram focuses on the culture and arts of each host group, including local dancers, musicians, singers, artists and performers of all types in native language style and dress. It gives us all the opportunity to enjoy the showcase of artistic performances by professional practitioners from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, who call Brampton home.

The dancers at each pavilion would leave you breathless as they fuse traditional dances with the limbo. The colorful costumes and hospitality was amazing! It was great to witness and participate in the amalgamation of traditions from the many ethnicities found here! Look forward to Carabram 2019, cheers until then!