On Saturday, August 18th, the city will come alive with Halifax’s newest summer event, the Mosaic Festival. The one-day multicultural event will be a unique celebration of our city’s diverse cultures – pairing a vibrant parade of music and dance with a waterfront party of concerts and vendors.
Organized by the Halifax based immigration platform My Halifax Experience, the inaugural Mosaic Festival will break the mould of past multicultural festivals, wowing spectators and participants with a carnival-inspired display of colourful culture.
“We are honoured that Waterfront Development approached us to organize this event because we feel it’s important for our immigrant population to feel at home here,” says Ifeanyi Emesih, Founder of My Halifax Experience and Mosaic Festival. “We want this festival to become one of Halifax’s essential summer events – for our immigrants, newcomers and international students to have a familiar piece of home on the waterfront; and for the residents of Halifax to have the chance to discover, learn and immerse themselves in other cultures.”
Starting with a parade along Lower Water Street, the family-friendly event will feature music and dance from around the world. The parade will start at Pier 21 – symbolic of Halifax’s strong ties with welcoming newcomers. As the parade ends at Salter Lot, the music will continue with a series of concerts, featuring performances from various cultures. Alongside the musical stage will be booths of vendors, giving these communities a chance to showcase and sell their crafts, food and art. A highlight will be the Chef’s Corner, featuring local chefs cooking our region’s most important food export – seafood, but with an international spin.
The Mosaic Festival is supported by Halifax Waterfront Development, Downtown Halifax Business Commission, and Halifax Regional Municipality. More information and updates are available at www.mosaicfestival.ca. This is also where vendors, parade participants and performers can apply to be a part of the event.
About My Halifax Experience
Founded by Ifeanyi Emesih, My East Coast Experience is a multimedia partnership celebrating the similarities and differences of people choosing the East Coast of Canada as their new home. This venture includes online portals and a quarterly magazine that tells the stories – and shares the dreams – of new immigrants who have found success in this region, while encouraging others to stay in the Maritimes to pursue their own dreams.
