Trifter

Sunfest July 9-12th 2009, London, Ontario

In 1995 the sound of Japanese drumming against grey skies and thunder heralded the beginning of what has become one of Southwestern Ontario’s premier music Festivals.  Sunfest began that year with an attendance of around 10,000 and has now grown to become a 4 day event with over 200,000 attending.  The Festival billed as “Canada’s Premier Celebration of the Global Arts”  has been host to musicians and artists from Africa, Japan, China, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and everything in between.

Some artists who are perennial favourites include Lazo whose funky reggae rhythms always get the crowd moving and dancing, the Samba Squad from Toronto have become a fixture at the Festival where they open the event with a Brazilian style carnival parade.  Some favourites from years past include local talent Sonja Gustafson a lyric soprano, The Mighty Popo originally from Rwanda brings with him some soul inspiring guitar music and there is so much more with two main stages and two side stages the music goes on all day and all night.

And oh the food -  from Vietnamese Spring rolls wrapped in lettuce to the crispy deep fried version, Pad Thai, Jamaican Jerk, Caribbean Roti, Indian curries, Latin Empanadas, Portuguese and Afghani cuisine, Nicaraguan and Peruvian treats from spicy to sublime.  Lebanese falafel and Greek Souvlaki, Columbian Papusas, to Mexican Churros.  Many of the food vendors have small businesses locally and Sunfest is the perfect opportunity to present their cuisine to the public.  There is the usual Canadian fare of Hamburg’s, hotdogs and pizza, and there is superb fresh lemonade, delicious smoothies and lots of vegetarian and vegan choices.  For the sweet tooth you can feast on chocolate dipped fruit, candy floss, toffee apples and that staple of all festivals the Elephant Ear and Funnel Cake. 

In 2008 Sunfest introduced the eco-friendly festival.  All vendors used recyclable plates, cups, utensils and eco-stations were set up around the park where waste can be sorted into a variety of containers.  Volunteers staff each station and help stream the waste.  Sunfest also encouraged the use of water bottles and re-fillable containers with water stations around the park. 

There’s plenty of shopping to be done as well.  Vendors range from booksellers to soap sellers.  Hand-crafted jewellery vendors create exquisite gold and silver work to fantasy pieces dripping with crystals and beads, t-shirts from tie-dyed to hemp and fair trade advocates such as Ten Thousand Villages participate.  Amnesty International is represented along with other human rights organizations and many vendors were originally refugees and immigrants now promoting their own small businesses with beautiful hand-crafted items from their countries of origin.  African drums, Peruvian weaving, Panamanian molas, Salvadorian sweaters, and every where you wander there is music and more music. 

Sunfest is a joy to participate in it is a dance along, sing along and even drum along party for four days.  The crowds are intense but the Park with its glorious old trees provides lots of green spaces for sitting and plenty of shade to dine under.  It can be an overwhelming day for pets but there are several locations throughout the Park where there is water and shade for animals at no charge, and there is even an ATM machine for those heavy spenders.  Take along a collapsible chair as you may just want to hang out all day and night for that matter.

WWW.SUNFEST.ON.CA