Village Music Fest returning to Osborne on June 27

Osborne Village

It went so well last year, they’re doing it again.

The second annual Village Music Fest will be held at different venues throughout Osborne Village on Saturday, June 27.

According to a release, the free, all-ages event will run from noon until late and feature more than 30 live performances, interactive art installations, and hands-on cultural experiences.

The festival also dovetails with Canadian Multiculturalism Day, which makes it an all-around celebration of Osborne Village and life beyond its borders.

“Last year went really well and we were delighted by the participation in community,” Zohreh Gervais, Osborne Village BIZ’s executive director, said.

“The goals of the event are two-fold. Firstly, we wanted to create an event that celebrated Osborne Village and the businesses that come from all over the world. We also wanted to create something participatory to show how we engage with and share our cultures between us,” Gervais said. “On the music side, we wanted to showcase artists from many different genres, that are uniquely new and Canadian. We had great feedback about the musical workshops we did last year, as it’s a fun thing to do.”

The lineup of things to do at the festival is extensive and eclectic.

Workshops and performances at the Bell Tower, guided by world-class artists, include a Taiko drumming workshop by Fubuki Daiko Drumming, a Bollywood dance workshop by Bollywood Fusion, a salsa dance workshop by Salsa Explosion Dance Academy, and live Latin music by Papa Mambo and Grupo El Solar.

Among the 30-plus live performers will be The OBGMS, Zrada, The Haileys, Super Duty Tough Work, Prado Monroe, and Dill the Giant. Venues will include the Toad in the Hole, Osborne Taphouse, Club Happenings, ANAF Club 160, and Small Mercies Courtyard.

Gervais emphasized she hopes to see a lot of visitors bring their families, as there will be fun for everyone. The event is also designed to be non-disruptive to businesses that aren’t participating.

“This seems like such a natural fit for Osborne, as there’s such an incredible diversity of businesses. We have food here from more than 30 different cultures, and many new Canadians are contributing to this,” Gervais said.

“I’m super excited. I think it’s going to be a really fun time. And there’s so much happening that’s not even on the schedule. Come down and explore the village.”

Go online at www.osbornevillagebiz.com/villagemusicfest