Taste of Asia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taste of Asia |
|
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Location(s) | Markham, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Inaugurated | 2003 |
| Attendance | 180,000+ |
| Organized by | Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham (FCCM) |
| Filing status | Non-profit |
| Website | http://www.taste-of-asia.ca/ |
The Taste of Asia is a super fun annual street festival held in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It's organized by a group called the Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham (FCCM). This festival is a huge event, bringing together over 180,000 people every year! It's actually the biggest Asian festival in all of Canada.
Imagine a giant party on the street! The Taste of Asia is famous for its amazing food from different Asian cultures. You can also watch exciting live shows with popular Asian performers. Plus, there are lots of cool community activities, like basketball games and even hot sauce contests! The festival usually happens on the last weekend of June. It takes place on Kennedy Road, right next to Pacific Mall and Market Village.
The Taste of Asia has even been named one of the top festivals in Ontario! In 2021, the festival happened from June 25th to 27th. In 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was held online so everyone could still enjoy it safely from home.
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What Happens at the Festival?
The Taste of Asia festival is packed with exciting things to see and do. It's a great way to experience different parts of Asian culture.
Live Shows and Performances
You can watch many kinds of performances at the festival. These include:
- Awesome musical acts
- Traditional and modern dances
- Cool martial arts demonstrations
For example, in 2017, a famous TV star named Elanne Kong performed at the festival!
How the Festival Started
The Taste of Asia festival began in 2003. It was created during a time when there was a health concern called SARS. The main goal of starting the festival was to help local businesses and the economy get back on track. It brought people together and helped the community feel strong again.
Who Organizes the Festival?
The main group behind the Taste of Asia is the Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham (FCCM). They are a non-profit organization, which means they don't make money from the festival. Instead, they use their efforts to help the community.
FCCM's Community Work
Since 2003, FCCM has done a lot more than just the Taste of Asia festival. They work hard to share Chinese culture and connect with other communities. Some of their other events include:
- Chinese New Year celebrations
- Mid-Autumn Festival events
- Thanksgiving gatherings
- The Asialicious program, which promotes Asian food
- Working with other charities like the Canadian Red Cross
FCCM wants to help people learn about Chinese culture. They also want to celebrate and appreciate all the different cultures that make up Canada.
Where is the Festival Located?
The Taste of Asia festival is held in a busy part of Markham.
Festival Street Closure
In 2021 and 2022, the festival took place on Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue East. This area is right on the border between Markham and Scarborough. During the festival, a part of Kennedy Road is closed off. This makes space for all the food stalls, performance stages, and people enjoying the festival.
Nearby Landmarks
The festival's location is special because it's right next to Pacific Mall. Pacific Mall is known as the largest indoor Asian shopping mall in North America. It's a huge place with lots of shops and restaurants!
