Carassauga

Carassauga is an annual multi-cultural festival in Mississauga, Ontario, founded in 1985. It features culinary and artistic pavilions representing various countries and cultures.

History

Carassauga is an incorporated non-profit volunteer community organization. The Festival was developed in response to a challenge put out by Mayor Hazel McCallion to all ethno-cultural groups at a meeting she called in the old City Hall in the fall of 1985. Originally incorporated to promote public awareness and appreciation of multiple cultures, Carassauga has become an important annual event in Mississauga's calendar. The Festival is a "Festival of Cultures" reflecting the rich ethnic mosaic of the Mississauga community. It was presented for the first time in 1986 with 10 Pavilions and open to the public only on Saturday and Sunday. Presently, the Festival hosts more than 25 pavilions and has evolved into a 3-day, 22-hour event.

Pavilions

Each year, Carassauga hosts a number of Pavilions that represent different countries. The pavilions are located in various cultural and recreation centres throughout the City of Mississauga. In the past, the Festival has showcased culture from several African countries, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Latin America, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malta, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam.

Sponsorship

In its early years, the festival relied solely on the grants from the City Council. It became financially independent in 1995. As of 2013, Carassauga is funded by the City of Mississauga, the Federal and Provincial Governments as well as several sponsors and business partners.

External links

• Official site