Surrey’s 2018 Fusion Festival was once again a spectacular and successful event! This was the 11th annual Fusion Fest since it first appeared in 2008. Back then it was a three-day festival but today’s two day festival seems the right length for a fun-packed weekend. The crowds were huge. The prediction was for 100,000 visitors this year, and I’m sure it was at least that. Holland Park, where the Festival is located just south of the Surrey Central mall, it seemed like it didn’t have a square inch to spare. In fact, it was the largest Fusion Festival to date with 53 pavilions, and over 150 entertainers of all types – musicians, dancers, and other artistic performers – and of course the greatest variety of national cuisines you could imagine. Last year around this time I wrote about the 2017 Fusion Festival with an emphasis on the entertainment and the international pavilions. This year so this year I will put a nit more emphasis on the great selection of international food. I couldn’t possibly mention every dish that was available at this year’s festival, but if you didn’t happen to attend this year, the following list will give you an idea of what you can try next year. It’s a small sample of the food typical of nations around the world, but it hopefully it will give you a “taste” of what’s available at Fusion.
Foods from around the world
Afghanistan: several varieties of Kebabs; Argentina: Empanadas and Pastalitos; Barbados: fish cakes and Macaroni pie; Chile: Tostadas and Empanadas; China: dumplings and varieties of chow mein; Columbia: pineapples, chozado and Columbian coffee; Cuba: BBQ chicken and roasted pork; Ecuador: mangos and chocolate banana; El Salvador: Pupusa, tostadas and tamales; England: fish and chips, and beef and broccoli; Fiji: Curry chicken and BBQ lamb; France: Crepes both for meals and desserts; Germany: Roasted pork hock sauerkraut and German rye bread; Ghana Fried plantains, and beef and chicken meat pies; Greece: souvlaki wraps and Lukamodes; Guatemala: Tostadas and sugar cane juice: Honduras: Tamarindo and Loroco pupusas: Hong Kong: Hong Kong-style vanilla/chocolate shake and red bean ice cream. India: Fish pakora and chana patura; Indonesia: Chicken satay and corn fritters; Italy: Pasta,meatballs and chickpea salad; Jamaica: Jerk chicken and Curry goat; Kazakhstan: chicken drump steak and kawap; Korea: mango sticky rice and deep fried banana and ice cream; Metis: varieties of bannock and vegetarian chilli; Mexico: Burritos, Tacos and churros; Nepal: Chicken choyla and fish pakora; Nigeria: Jollof rice and cassava sticks; Pakistan: chicken tika with naan; Palestine: Falafel sandwich and Shawarma: Philippines: Chicken adobo and tropical fruits; Russia: Cabbage rolls and bortz. South Africa: Boerewors in a bun and goat stew with pap; South Sudan: Bahlawa and hibiscus drink; Sri Lanka: Panipuri and pao with fries; Taiwan: Deep fried tofu and pudding milk tea; Thailand: Deep fried squid and pad thai; Trinidad and Tobago: Roti (with rice and peas) and curry goat; Ukraine: Perogies with sour cream and cabbage rolls; Venezuela: Cocada (coconut smoothie) and Merengadas (milkshake); Vietnam: Lemongrass chicken and Banh mi.
Live entertainment
The live entertainment this year was outstanding: on Saturday evening the headliner performance by Walk of the Earth was absolutely great, and the whole audience seemed to come together as one. It was a phenomenal performance. Then on Sunday evening, there was another fantastic performance by Ranjit Bawa on the main stage. And all this was free. I don’t know of any other festival where the public could get such a great experience and not have to pay a cent.
Environmental consciousness
The Fusion festival is not only leading edge in cultural entertainment but it environmental awareness as well. This year the festival also continued its environmental protection and for the first time it did not have any plastic straws and used plant-based straws as well as wooden cutlery as well. This is a growing trend. You probably heard about Starbucks getting rid of plastic straws as well. It’s an important issue because plastic straws are not biodegradable and are very bad for landfills. The festival stopped using Styrofoam in 2014 so cups and plates are also more environmentally friendly now.
Great family festival
Before I close, I also want to commend the festival organisers for remembering that many visitors are families with little kids. They did another great job this year of ensuring there were lots of fun activities for little children and this made it a happy place for everyone. Also, with so many people in one place, you might expect some trouble, but the RCMP presence made it a safe and secure atmosphere without spoiling the festive mood. It was as great experience for everyone, and one of the main annual events that Surrey is now famous across Canada.
Just another reason I love this city.
Thanks for reading!
Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®