Surrey: Surrey Fusion Festival has been named the world’s “Best Festival” at the 2019 Special Events Magazine Gala Awards, held on Thursday, January 10, in San Diego, California.  The Gala Awards are the oldest awards program in the event industry and recognize the finest work in special events worldwide. The 2019 awards received entries in 34 categories from 13 countries. This is the second time the Surrey Fusion Festival has been recognized, previously accepting the award in 2013.

“We are honoured to be recognized by Special Events Magazine for this prestigious award,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “Surrey Fusion Festival is now B.C.’s largest multicultural event, bringing our community together through diverse food, arts and entertainment. Community events like this create strong connections within our community and foster civic pride. We thank our presenting sponsor, Coast Capital Savings and the many community groups who come together to make this event possible year after year.”

In its 11th year, the Surrey Fusion Festival drew thousands of fans from across the Lower Mainland to Holland Park on July 21 to 22, 2018, celebrating the theme of influential women at over 50 cultural pavilions. Attendees experienced five stages with live musical and cultural entertainment, including headliners Walk Off The Earth and Ranjit Bawa. The event also featured an Indigenous Village, Kid’s Zone and a cooking stage, where attendees could learn to make various cultural dishes.

Organizers enhanced the environmental focus of this year’s festival, by only offering 100 per cent biodegradable, plant-based straws and wooden cutlery through the 53 cultural pavilions, and provided on-site organics disposal carts.