776. Affordable Events Aug. 17-21 in Multicultural Toronto – 2017

Here are a few of the many free or nearly-free events expressive of Multicultural Toronto this week. It would be nice if all of us can get out to enjoy our summer weather as well as events with their roots in five different continents.

Africa. Cameroon. Music That Makes You Move: Kalimbas at Work – Njacko Backo. Saturday, August 19. 6:30pm.  Performance free. Aga Khan Museum Park, 77 Wynford Drive. (Wynford Drive is located one light north of Eglinton off Don Mills Road.)

“Don’t miss the ‘king of African kalimbas,’ singer Njacko Backo, as he leads Kalimbas at Work, a group of Toronto-based musicians playing joyful African-influenced melodies on the Cameroonian thumb piano, African harp, fiddle, accordion, and percussion instruments from around the world. Enjoy a high-energy musical celebration of the inter-connectedness of cultures.

In the event of rain, the concert will take place in the Ismaili Centre, Toronto, a short walk across the Aga Khan Park. https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/performing-arts/event/music-makes-you-move-kalimbas-work-njacko-backo

Image of Njacko Backo courtesy of http://www.njackobacko.com

 

China. Buddhist. Taiwan.

 

First Nations. Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World. A multi-award winning film. August 17. 3:30pm. $9.73. Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West. “… reveals an essential and, until now, missing chapter in the history of popular music: the Indigenous influence. Lifting the veil on the enormous impact made by First Nations and Native American musicians including Robbie Robertson, Link Wray, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Charley Patton, Jimi Hendrix…” http://bit.ly/2hsUasS

Image of Buffy Sainte-Marie by Drpeterstockdale – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61450491

 

India.

 

Italy. Solmar Mississauga Italfest. Ferragosto in the City. Friday,  August 18 at 5-11pm and Saturday, August 19 at 10am-10:50pm. Free entry. Bocce, Briscola and Scopa tournaments, food and crafts from 50+ vendors and artisans, cultural and family-oriented activities, entertainment from local and international talent, a thriving “mercato”. Watermelon and pasta eating contests, etc. Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga. http://mississaugaitalfest.com/

http://mississaugaitalfest.com/schedule/

Jamaica. Rastafest. August 19-20. $15-$20. Stage show with Reggae performers. Kijiji Market. Black Creek Pioneer village north property, 7060 Jane Street (North west corner of Jane and Steeles Ave. West). www.Rastafest.com.

 

Kurdistan. 

 

Macao. 4th Macao Fun Fair. August 19. 12-6pm. Free admission. Pride of Canada Carousel, 8080 Birchmount Road, Markham.

… Macao sits on the western side of the Pearl River Delta of China. It was a Portuguese territory up until 1999, giving the region its unique cultural history and making it home to delicious, one-of-a-kind, Chinese-Portuguese dishes…

“Come join the Macao Club in getting to know Macanese food and the Macanese people at this year’s fun fair. There will be… food booths, live entertainment, games and more! In preparation for next year’s 65th Macao Grand Prix Motor Racing, we will be introducing the “Total Virtual Ride Simulator” for the very first time! These simulators are hooked up to hydraulic supports to simulate car racing movements– a lifelike Grand Prix race!”. https://allevents.in/markham/4th-macao-fun-fair/105574740123769 . “

 

Multicultural. Canadian National Exhibition International Performers. August 18-September 4. Included with general admission to the CNE. International Pavilion. You can combine these shows with international shopping (and resting). For schedule see: https://theex.com/main/entertainment/international-performers

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Florian_Silbereisen – Die Tournee 2016 – Das Beste der Feste – Lust auf Schlager – Tourpremiere /
Freiheitshalle / Hof / Freitag, 18. März 2016 /
Foto: BMC-Picture für JürgensTV

Ruth’s note: I don’t think that performers whose talents have roots in Nunavut, Quebec and Manitoba should be listed as “International”. But any opportunity to experience Canadians like the Inuksuk Drum Dancers, the Asham Stompers, and Manitoba Power Fiddler Shawn Mousseau is good. Genuinely international in this list of performers during the Ex is the Bavaria, Germany break-dancing group Dancefloor Destruction Crew (DDC) in image above, and the Mariachi Band, Mariachi Estrella, originally from Zapotiltic, Jalisco, Mexico.  Les Productions Kalabante is a made-in-Quebec artistic company with performers from Guinea that combine traditional African arts, music, dance and circus culture.

 

Multicultural. Israel. Markham Jazz Festival continues. August 16-20. Free. Among its several diverse cultural performers are Hoffman and Lemish at 2pm. Sunday, August 20. These are “ two of Israel’s most innovative musicians. Guitarist and oudist Amos Hoffman and pianist Noam Lemish, joined by bassist Justin Gray and drummer Derek Gray, fuse the rhythms and melodic themes of the Middle East with Modern Jazz, in imaginative arrangements of songs originating from Yemenite, North African, Russian and Persian Jewish communities.” Markhamjazzfestival.com.

Multicultural. Toronto International Folk Dancing at the UofT. Tuesdays for the remainder of August, as long as there are dancers attending. 7-9pm, weather permitting. Free. Hillcrest Park, northwest corner of Christie and Davenport. Free street parking on the neighbourhood streets. For this and other opportunities to dance outdoors: http://ofda.ca/wp/upcoming-folk-dance-events/

OFDA logo

 

Philippines. Taste of Manila. August 19 (9am-11pm) and August 20 (9am-6pm). Free entry. Bathurst Street from Wilson Avenue. “Biggest Filipino Festival Outside of the Philippines.” www.tasteofManilaCanada.com

Ukraine. Ukraine’s Independence Day and Canada’s 150th. August 19. 10am-11pm. Centennial Park. Plan for a full day of fabulous food, fun and festivities. “Enjoy the outdoor stage show at 1pm featuring energetic and beautiful Ukrainian dancers and singers. Indulge in the food court, beverage gardens, market place, children’s play centre and then top the evening off at the outdoor dance to some  exhilarating rhythms… Hosted by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress-Toronto Branch.” http://www.ucctoronto.ca and   https://ucctoronto.ca/events/ukrainian-independence-day.

Note: TorontoMulticulturalCalendar.com chooses to promote events that express a peaceful world in our city. Mention doesn’t mean endorsement but we try to include events we think readers will find interesting and stimulating in the cultures of other groups. We hope you will find something to do in your neighbourhood. Avoid Toronto’s horrible traffic jams.

Please continue to send us posters and pictures about other upcoming affordable events that give you a chance to experience Toronto’s exemplary cultural diversity. We don’t charge to post them and we don’t accept paid advertising. We will try to post as many as we can.

Tell us about your adventures in multicultural Toronto. Subscribe to our mailing list for newsletters above. Follow us on www.twitter.com/torontomulticul . Leave a Reply below or email us: ruthlormalloy@gmail.com .Ruth.

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