Series of virtual multicultural festivals coming to Brampton soon

For those who miss attending festivals and local events, popular, multicultural festivals are coming to Brampton soon! 

Arts & Culture Initiative of South Asia festivals focus on South Asian arts, culture, and heritage through performances, workshops, Bollywood dance lessons and much more. South Asian culture encompasses India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and residents are invited to watch dance groups, classical musicians, and popular singers as well as participate in many workshops. 

“The festival promotes local talent and includes an exciting line-up of emerging artists and well-known names in the entertainment industry that appeals to all ages,” said Festival Co-Art Director Arpan Banerjee.

The virtual festivals begin with VibrantBrampton, a heritage festival featuring performances from renowned and emerging artists including Bhoomi Trivedi, Navraj Hans, Sreerama Chandra, Parichay, Sarabjit Cheema and Aaman Trikha. Artists will be taking the virtual stage every Tuesday and Wednesday from July 21 to August 5, 2020.

Next, the VibrantStar finales will showcase six finalists battling to win the top prize in three categories- vocal, instrumental and dance beginning the week of July 20. 

Stemming from the demand for a classical music and dance platform, VibrantClassical is a new segment launched this year that includes local artists from around the GTA. Running every Thursday, artists will show off their skills starting August 20 for three consecutive weeks until September 3, 2020.

According to Arts & Culture Initiative of South Asia, classical music and dance has always aimed for the “classes” and not the “masses” But their goal is to let the masses experience and listen to the language of the soul. 

Don’t worry, they also have a unique festival for art lovers. META, a digital and modern art festival will live-stream exciting content every Tuesday and Thursday for the entire month of August. Tuesdays will be devoted to workshops and panels featuring local creators and partners, while Thursdays will feature live-streamed performances from global and local artists. Specifically, the first two weeks will celebrate local culture by focusing on Brampton creators and performers. 

“META aims to capture variations of digital and modern art all in one place and bring an experience unlike any other to Peel Region. It also hopes to engage the youth and young adults by providing an inter-cultural understanding of diverse cultures, arts and heritage,” writes Arts & Culture Initiative of South Asia. 

The last festival, the Visual Arts of South Asia festival, is an arts festival that provides artists with the opportunity to connect and create and promotes the visual arts through educational workshops and performances every Thursday starting July 23 until August 12. 

“More than ever now is when arts and music and culture have the power to not only uplift spirits but also to bring people together in these unprecedented times. Our festivals endeavour to do just that” says Ricky Bajaj, co-founder and president of the Arts & Culture Initiative of South Asia.

Residents can watch all live streams at https://www.facebook.com/vibrantbramptonfest. 

Brampton Farmer’s Market finally opening soon amid pandemic

For those who have been waiting patiently, Brampton Farmer’s Market is finally opening soon.

With many safety measures in place due to COVID-19, the market will be open on Saturdays from June 27 until October 24.

The Downtown Brampton attraction will now operate from 8 a.m to 1 p.m to allow for a safe set up on the street for shopping.

“I encourage you to enjoy and shop the market while wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing and maintaining good hygiene. I look forward to welcoming you back to the market this year,” says Mayor Patrick Brown.

Don’t worry, your favourite farmers and vendors will be back to sell fresh local produce and prepared packaged food. However, artisan crafts and food prepared on-site will not be available.

“Many incredible vendors will be on-site and I encourage everyone to support these businesses. Be sure to follow the safety measures in place to ensure the best experience possible for everyone,” says Regional Councillor and Economic Development and Culture Chair Gurpreet Dhillon.

“A range of downtown Brampton businesses are vendors this year, and I encourage residents and visitors to shop local, stay safe, and support our great city and downtown,” says Downtown Brampton BIA Executive Director Suzy Godefroy.

All vendors and customers will be required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering while at the market. There will also be hand sanitizer stations available throughout the market with a defined number of visitors admitted to the market area at any one time. To keep a track of visitors, there will be only one entrance and one exit to each of the market areas.

Customers should only let one person per household attend the market this season and maintain physical distancing of six feet while at the market. People should note gatherings of more than ten people are prohibited under the province’s emergency orders. Customers are also reminded to carry their own disinfectants, such as hand sanitizer or wipes, wash their hands often and refrain from touching their face.

“The Brampton Farmers’ Market is a tradition that my business is always happy to be a part of. It’s important now more than ever that visitors shop local. This year, I will be at the market selling pastries, bread and schnitzel sandwiches. Please practise physical distancing and good hygiene, so we can all stay safe and enjoy the market,” says Vera Krasavac, owner of Queen Gypsy.

A map of vendors will be available online at http://www.brampton.ca/markets.

Here’s how you can win $200 by reading with Brampton Library

Gear up, Brampton readers! Brampton Library is bringing back its summer reading clubs and they are bigger than ever. 

Residents can either participate in the Adult Summer Reading Club or the Teen Summer Reading Club if they are between the ages of 13 and 18. 

From now to September 8, adults can register online and participate by logging eBooks, audiobooks, non-fiction and fiction books and completing online bingo challenges to win many prizes. The prizes include monthly prize draws and four grand prizes. To win a monthly prize of a $25 gift card, participants must log at least one eBook, audiobook, non-fiction or fiction book within four weeks. The draw dates are June 29, July 27 and August 31.

Looking to win something bigger?

Brampton Library is also giving away grand prizes including a $200 President’s Choice Gift Card, $200 Indigo Gift Card and a Wellness Prize Pack (1 month of free classes at Modo Yoga Brampton and a Saje Diffuser Kit).

All Bramptonians have to do is complete the online bingo challenges. The challenges range from reading a book to completing a Virtual Escape Box. For those who complete the entire bingo card, they will automatically be entered for the top prize draw, which is a CityPASS Toronto for Two (Includes admission to CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Casa Loma, Royal Ontario Museum, and Toronto Zoo OR Ontario Science Centre).

Don’t worry, Brampton teens can also participate by collecting points throughout the summer by logging the books you read, writing book reviews, participating in our virtual programs and completing online challenges.

Teens have a shot at winning one of three grand prizes including Apple AirPods, a $150 gift card for Cineplex/Playdium or two passes to Treetop Trekking Brampton. On top of that, the club member who accumulates the most points at the end of the summer will win a $150 gift card to Chapters/Indigo.

Teens who register for the club before July 8 will be automatically entered into an early bird draw for a pass to Wet ‘n’ Wild Toronto.

Are you joining this year’s summer reading club? 

Bollywood virtual trivia nights are coming soon to Brampton

Calling all Bollywood fans!

If you are itching to demonstrate how knowledgeable you are about Bollywood movies, songs and celebrities, then Brampton Library is putting on a virtual event just for you. 

The library will be hosting two Bollywood- themed trivia nights on July 21 and August 25.

From 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., even the most hardcore fans of Bollywood will have their knowledge tested.

Are you ready to put your knowledge to the test? 

All residents have to do is sign up for the weeks they want to participate on Eventbrite. At the time of the event, click the access link sent in the event reminder email. It is recommended to use two devices, one for viewing the Webex screen and the other for answering questions on Kahoot. Residents can join the program 10 minutes earlier if they have any concerns about setting up their device(s).

If residents have any questions, they are encouraged to email events@bramptonlibrary.ca/

Will you be putting your Bollywood knowledge to the test? 

Brampton Library to host virtual trivia nights every week of summer

Calling all trivia lovers!

If you love all things trivia and are itching to demonstrate how knowledgeable you are about random worldly facts, then Brampton Library is putting on a virtual event just for you. 

The library will be hosting themed trivia nights each Thursday from June to September.

From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., even the most hardcore fans of trivia will have their knowledge tested.

Are you ready to put your knowledge to the test? 

All residents have to do is sign up for the weeks they want to participate on Eventbrite. At the time of the event, click the access link sent in the event reminder email. It is recommended to use two devices, one for viewing the Webex screen and the other for answering questions on Kahoot. Residents can join the program 10 minutes earlier if they have any concerns about setting up their device(s).

Brampton Library will also be live streaming the game on their Facebook Page for those who are unable to register but still want to join in on the Kahoot game. 

Here is a list of the Trivia schedule: 

June 18 – Movie Trivia: General Knowledge, Hollywood Classics & Harry Potter Trivia

June 25 – Netflix and Your Favourite TV Shows

July 2 – Music Trivia: Canadian Artists, Instrumental Knowledge and Musicals

July 9 – Sports Trivia: Football, Basketball & Soccer

July 16 – Pop Culture Trivia: Superheroes, Fashion & Modern Slang

July 23 – Gold Medal Trivia (Olympics)

July 30 – School Subjects Trivia: Astronomy, Art & English

August 6 – Hollywood vs. Bollywood vs. Hollywood North

August 13 – Sitcom-o-Rama (Friends, The Office and The Simpsons)

August 20 – Chart-Topping Music Trivia

August 27 – Sports with Sticks Trivia: Baseball, Tennis & Hockey

September 3 – Some like it Hot (Cooking Trivia)

Will you be joining in on the game?