Afro Vibe Fest
(L-R) Afro Vibe Fest organizers Sharon Bon, Liliane Breiland, and Anita Wanpia
New Two Day Festival Coming this Summer
Story and photo by Sidney Ulakovic
“We have so much that we can share,” says Liliane Breiland, organizer of the upcoming Afro Vibe Fest, Thunder Bay’s newest summer festival celebrating the vast and varying cultures of Africa. “This festival is going to be an occasion for us to share our culture with our new home.”
Breiland is organizing the festival alongside Sharon Bon and Anita Wanpia, who began initial planning last June. Breiland, who owns The African Boutique, says that her previous experience organizing fashion shows and galas and seeing how well received they were by the community inspired her to organize something bigger to showcase Thunder Bay’s growing cultural demographic. “Thunder Bay has become so colourful,” Breiland says.
The two day festival is set to occur this July 12 and 13, stretching from Waverley Park to Marina Park. Similarly to Toronto’s annual Caribana festival, attendees can expect to see colourful and vibrant parades and performances. Breiland says that the event is expecting 200 vendors, both local and otherwise, alongside a variety of entertainment and cuisine. “It’s going to be the moment to come and travel around the world just by eating diverse types of food,” Breiland says. “You’re going to see yourself in the Caribbean. You’re going to see yourself in Africa, USA, just here at the Marina Park.”
Breiland emphasizes that Afro Vibe Fest welcomes everyone, regardless of cultural background, to experience the festival’s showcase of diversity, history, and community. “It’s an environment to learn more,” Breiland says. “It’s going to be an occasion to bring these children to witness that and to grow. They’re going to be the ambassadors at the schools talking about the culture, what they witnessed, to break the barriers.”
Breiland says Afro Vibe Fest’s website is scheduled to launch at the end of February, where people will be able to purchase tickets or find more information on how to get involved.