The Richmond World Festival is expanding to Antarctica and Africa this year making it a truly global celebration. The Richmond World Festival takes place this Friday and Saturday and is presented by Coast Capital Savings. Admission is free.
While African culture has always been celebrated at the festival, this year it is being expanded to an entire zone. The Africa Zone will feature a line-up of amazing artists, fun activities for all ages and a variety of vendors showcasing everything from batiks to bolga baskets. In the Africa Pavilion festival goers will be able to view a variety of authentic arts and enjoy an African drumming demonstration led by Ezeadi Onukwulu, a mainstay of Canada’s World/African music scene. Other cultural pavilions at this year’s festival will represent Pakistan, Russia, Taiwan and the Metis Nation.
Also new this year is the Antarctica Zone, festival goers can take a break from the great food and entertainment for a free public skate inside Minoru Arenas. Skate rentals are available for free and skating hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday and 12 – 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The new zones are part of an incredible jam-packed two days of celebration combining music, food, culture and sports from around the planet. Headlining this year’s main stage are international recording sensations Lights and Magic! Also performing are Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, winners of season 1 of The Launch, who were just named Best New Canadian Artists at the iHeartRadio MuchMusic Video Awards on Sunday. They are part of 90 performances on nine stages from 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Other highlights include the FEASTival of Flavours with more than 50 food trucks, the Culinary Stage, featuring top local chefs, and the Bamboo Theatre and Global Village stages, featuring diverse multicultural music and dance. Cutting edge and provocative multimedia art is featured in the Your Kontinent Digital Carnival, while fans of the spoken word will get their fix at the World of Poetry. Kids will delight at the children’s entertainment in Cowell Kids World and the whole family can stretch their creativity in the Imagination World at Richmond Public Library. The lively festival marketplace will have more than 85 vendors and exhibitors offering everything from traditional indigenous art to exquisite Japanese kimonos.
Minoru Park is located within the heart of Richmond’s City Centre and is just a short walk from the Canada Line Brighouse Station. It is also located along several major bus routes; visit translink.ca for route information. Free secure bicycle parking service available and free festival parking is across the street at Richmond City Hall or in the CF Richmond Centre south parkade.
For full event details visit www.richmondworldfestival.com and for updates, follow @FunRichmond on Twitter, #RichmondWorldFest
The festival is produced by the City of Richmond and presented by Coast Capital Savings. Stage and zone sponsors include Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Tourism Richmond, Cowell Auto Group, CF Richmond Centre and Vanprop Investments Ltd. Community sponsors are Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and FortisBC. Accommodation sponsor is Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel. Media sponsors are CTV, 94.5 Virgin Radio, Richmond News, Georgia Straight, Kiss Radio, AM 1320 102.7 The Peak, Z95.3, and Miss 604.
