6 events to check out at TAIWANfest in Toronto this weekend

Pack your bags Toronto, you’re about to go on a cultural journey.

TAIWANfest returns to Toronto this weekend, taking over the Harbourfront Centre for three action-packed days filled with live music, performances, food, fashion, food, and more.

Continuing into its third year of the ‘Dialogues with Asia’ series, this year’s festival theme is ‘A Fête with the Philippines.’

The annual festival celebrates, shares, and exchanges culture and heritage between communities and provides a stage for guests to learn, share, and foster new artistic expressions.

This year’s attendees can look forward to a wide array of visual, culinary, and theatric arts, workshops and demonstrations for all ages, mesmerizing performances, and tantalizing cuisine.

Here’s what to keep an eye out for:

Mario Subeldia – Sundays in Taiwan

This weekend, attendees can enjoy the work of fashion designer, community leader, and Taiwan’s first migrant artist, Mario Subeldia, an individual whose talents have led to inspiring an entire community of Filipino migrant artists, designers, and fashion models in Taiwan.

When: August 25, 12 pm to 7 pm; August 26, 12 pm to 6 pm, 4 pm to 5 pm

Yen-Chun Lu – Let’s Savour Taiwan

Food and storytelling have both been lifelong obsessions for Taiwanese artist Yen-Chun Lu, especially when it comes to the topic of organic, environmentally friendly and eco-farmed foods. Travelling across Taiwan and discovering the stories of dozens of local farmers and their green efforts, Lu was inspired to share their stories and help others learn to savour the tastes and tales of Taiwan.

When: August 25, 12 pm to 7 pm; August 26, 12 pm to 6 pm

Jump On Board – The Jeepney Experience

Jeepneys are the ubiquitous transportation found throughout the Philippines, typically sporting a collection of customized knickknacks, bright colours and designs, and sometimes extreme modifications. In the western world, our consideration for personal space can lead to unintended distances between people – remind yourself of how close humans can be, and squeeze on in.

When: August 25, 12 pm to 7 pm; August 26, 12 pm to 6 pm

International Pan-Asian Culinary Invitational

The International Pan-Asian Culinary Invitational in Toronto will welcome communities and individual to experience the multicultural society through participation in different activities. Using international culinary competition as a platform for chefs from different backgrounds to present what Pan-Asian Cuisine means to them. Daily Hive will also be judging this event, so make sure not to miss out on the fun.

When: August 25, 5 pm to 6 pm; August 26, 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm, 5 pm to 6 pm

Hope Talk

A TAIWANfest staple, the Hope Talk series returns with a lineup of deeply inspiring speakers. This year’s lineup includes author in exile Bei Ling, the meaning of “home”, and his curated collection of “China’s Forbidden Books” to genetic scientist Tse-Yi Wang with the hidden stories locked away in our DNA, revealing new perspectives on who we think we are, stories that our ancestors didn’t have the chance to tell and much more.

When: Various times throughout the weekend

Auba Rukai Children’s Choir – Songs of the Rukai

The award-winning Auba Rukai Children’s Choir from the Taiwanese indigenous Rukai tribe will be making its Canadian debut this weekend. This gifted group of individuals will be performing alongside the Toronto TAIWANfest Orchestra this Friday evening with their own featured performance each of Saturday and Sunday, in addition to exhibiting and sharing their cultural crafts in free workshops and sharing their stories.

When: August 25, 12 pm to 7 pm, 7:30 pm to 9 pm; August 26, 12 pm to 6 pm, 5 pm to 6 pm

TAIWANfest Fun Stop

With so many stories to discover, where does one begin? Visit the TAIWANfest Fun Stop and pick up a game card to explore some of the best the festival has to offer. Collect all the stops of interest and return your card for your chance to win a little piece of the festival to bring home.

When: August 25, 12 pm to 7 pm; August 26, 12 pm to 6 pm

TAIWANfest runs from Friday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26 at the Harbourfront Centre. Admission to the event is free of charge.

TAIWANfest 2018

When: Friday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26
Where: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West
Price: Free of charge

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Daily Hive is a proud media sponsor of TAIWANfest 2018

See also

• Toronto's annual Cabbagetown Festival returns next month
• 44 breweries and bars will participate in Toronto Beer Week next month
• This annual Butter Tart Taste-Off is happening near Toronto next month