THUNDER BAY— The city's first Afro-Vibe Fest is happening this weekend.
Including a parade, cultural music, art and vendors on July 12 and 13 at Marina Park, Liliane Breiland, the festival's creator and the director for Afro-Vibe Fest, said this celebration is just the start.
“It is going to be historical, it is going to be magic. It's the first Afro festival here in Thunder Bay,” Breiland said.
Kicking off with a parade on July 12 at noon, majorettes will be preforming and led by individuals on two Afro-styled horses, starting from Waverley Park and continuing down Red River Road before finishing at the festival’s location in Marina Park.
Community members attending the festival and wanting to see the new parade should arrive early, she said.
“I think this festival is going to be known by the generation yet unborn, because it's going to mark the first of the many,” she said.
The festival's main stage is set to feature local DJs, dancers, drummers and spoken word artists in addition to five-time Juno award winning artist, Exco Levi.
“I've organized so many events, fashion shows, galas and I thought to myself with our demographic going, what can we do, what can we show,” Breiland said. “And I think the culture is what.”
Some of the other activities slated to be available include traditional African hair braiding demonstrations, a Djembe drumming workshop, speed dating, a kid’s corner with games and face painting and a variety of local crafts, food and service vendors.
The festival will not only show off the vibrant culture to community members in the city, but it provides a space for the culture to thrive in Northwestern Ontario, she said.
Breiland added that when she first arrived in the Lakehead in 2016, she was thrilled to meet other community members in the city who were also from Africa.
“When I see a person of colour walking on the street, I will (say) this is my friend, this is my brother, this is my sister,” she said.
“Each of us have the strength from where we come from,” she added. “It is a beautiful thing to be together here.”
With the goal to be inclusive, all community members are invited to the city’s waterfront to celebrate the soon to be iconic two-day festival, Breiland said.
“We want to include everyone,” she said. “(If) you want to rock an African costume to come and parade, come and get it at the African Boutique and come and parade with us.”
More information on Afro-Vibe Fest and ticket sales can be found here.
