Culture Bridge Festival a Festival of World Sights, Sounds and Tastes

I Love Your Colours! Photos from TPE's 2016 show files

Produced by Culture Bridge Initiatives, The Culture Bridge Festival has been running in one form or another in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada since 2011 when it was held at the Newmarket Seniors Centre. Since those first days the cultural festival has grown in leaps, after some years of switching locations from Riverwalk Commons to the Magna Centre and back again, to its now more permanent home at Newmarket's beautiful Riverwalk Commons where not only can patrons enjoy the sights, sounds and foods of the world - but are within stones throw distance of historic downtown Newmarket and its own amazing array of multicultural restaurants and beautiful, historic buildings too!

Little Actor waits excitedly in 2016 at the old Magna Centre location

View 2018 Cultural Bridge showcase video on F.B. here

From the beginning, Ranji and Leila Singh have been driving forces behind the growing festival and have done an incredible job of keeping it going, having to endure years of doing much of the "grunt" work themselves often with mostly volunteers to help organize and put on the annual festival. In fact the original foundation for the event was called the Ranji Singh Foundation.

This year their persistence seems to beginning to pay off, attracting some top performers to the Riverwalk Commons' main stage during a very busy festival season, such as 2018 Panarama Indian Junior Idol Aditya Matkar, as well as Reggae Grammy Nominee Jason Lindo. Sounds of India also features Bollywood Divas, Paromita Kar, Divya Vive Kanandan, as well Bhangra Crew Ontario and The Living Room Katcheri, The Topaz Ensemble, and Illusionist Raman Sharma while international performances include Territorial Stage - a youth based initiative that creates plays of ones cultural experiences through acting out scripts written and performed by youth, Tabla House, a Chinese dance troupe, violinist, Japanese drumming, Italian musical theatre, Irish Dance, performances by Sentir Venezuela, Bangladesh Geetanjali Music Academy and Raizes Porttugesas, Dominica fashion show and finally an African, Ecquadorian and Imbayacunas drumming circle will close out the festival while DJ Jus Flow wraps his vibe around the whole mix making for a very cool addition.

Day One - Sights & Sounds of India 2018

So one can expect an exciting array of international music and talent for 2018 including the sights and Sounds of India on day one at 4pm Sat July 14th alongside international food vendors and fun kids activities including everything from bouncy castles to learning / playing cricket, while on day two an array of international sights and sounds from 1-5 pm, including food, fashion, decor and performances showcasing the cultures of the Caribbean, South Asia, Ukraine, China, Africa, Latin America, Mediterranea, Ireland, Portugal and more...

Cooling Station

Held inside and out at the Newmarket Lions Hall @ 200 Duncan Dr. ensures some respite from hot or wet weather should the need arise as well as a featured splash pad and fountain!



Local Notes: Free Parking can be accessed near the event, however for a scenic walk in and stress-free parking, park at Newmarket's municipal building at 395 Mulock Drive just west of the railroad tracks and walk the scenic pathway north through Fairy Lake Park and on in!

Oh, and admission is all FREE!