MUSIC & TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCES
AUTHENTIC INTERNATIONAL CUISINE
MULTICULTURAL CRAFT VENDORS
FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES
EMBRACE IT! FEEL IT! CELEBRATE IT!
PEMBROKE MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL ARCHIVES

A VIBRANT CELEBRATION OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY

A celebration of diverse cultural food, entertainment, and traditions, the Pembroke Multicultural Festival is an occasion for local small businesses, cultural groups, and newcomers to showcase their best dishes, display their cultures, and make lasting connections within the community.
Read through the history and click the links to view articles and videos about past festivals.

2006
During her first few years at the Pembroke Public Library, Karthi planned and hosted a library program titled “Multicultural Night”. This event has since grown into the large-scale, community-wide Pembroke Multicultural Festival, which celebrates the rich diversity of the Ottawa Valley.

2014
Celebrations and an in-house multicultural festival were held to mark the 100th anniversary of the Pembroke Public Library building, as well as the new front doors being installed, replicating the originals.

2017
Since 2017 the Multicultural Festival has been an annual event hosted by Pembroke Public Library.

In 2017 the Multicultural Festival was held within the Library with 40-50 locals in attendance. Karthi Rajamani revived a former library program and established the 1st annual Multicultural Festival at the Pembroke Public Library.

 

 

2018
In 2018, Pembroke Public Library hosted its 2nd Annual Multicultural Extravaganza at the Pembroke 50+ Active Living Centre. The event was attended by approximately 120 participants.

Many people in attendance dressed up in cultural attire and sat together at shared tables to catch sight of the various performers. Attendees were encouraged to bring a cultural dish to share and the potluck dinner.


2019

In 2019, Pembroke Public Library hosted its 3rd annual Multicultural Festival at the Pembroke Knights of Columbus Hall. 200 members of the community gathered to watch live performances on the stage and to share culture and celebrate community with food, music, and entertainment.


2021
In 2021, Pembroke Public Library partnered with local businesses, artists and performers to deliver its 4th annual Multicultural Festival virtually. Participants were encouraged to watch the video of cultural performances, and browse the online silent auction, while waiting for Library staff to deliver their pre-ordered meal. The event was a huge success, with 275 dishes gathered and 64 deliveries made in the course of 2 hours.

2022
The 7th Multicultural Festival was held at the Pembroke Waterfront Amphitheatre as a full-day event on Saturday, August 20, 2022. The festival attracted an attendance of approximately 2,500 participants during this outdoor event.

The morning contained a variety of dance workshops for adults and seniors, followed by performances from local musicians. The afternoon contained children’s workshops and activities including a bouncy castle, henna tattoos, kite racing and more! Throughout the day local vendors sold delicious food, goods and crafts of cultural significance. This event featured 16 performers, 11 restaurants, 12 vendors and over 2,500 participants!


2023
The 8th Annual Multicultural Festival was held as a two-day event at the Pembroke Waterfront on July 14 and 15, 2023. The event attracted over 5,000 residents and visitors to the park.

Friday evening contained a variety of local vendors, A balloon artist & a lineup of lively music & dance performances including African Drumming, Punjabi Dance, Bollywood Dance & Venezuelan Song & Dance!

The morning contained a land acknowledgment from Mayor Gervais & drumming from the Kichi Sibi Women drumming group followed by performances from local musicians & a magic show from local Magician Steven Anthony. The afternoon contained children’s workshops and activities including a bouncy castle, henna tattoos, & face painting. Throughout the day local vendors sold delicious food, goods and crafts of cultural significance.

The Evening brought a variety of performances with features including: Lebanese Dance, Oriental Music & Dance, Colombian Dance, Character Dance, Thai Dance, Classical Dance, K-Pop Dance, & Bollywood Dance Performances!

2024
On July 19 and 20, 2024, the Pembroke Public Library hosted its 9th annual Multicultural Festival in partnership with the City of Pembroke; it was once again held as a two-day event at the Pembroke Waterfront.

This year’s event featured a large variety of food & craft vendors; henna and face-paint artists; and a lineup of educational workshops (African Dance Workshop, Latin-American Dance Workshop, Latin-American Kite-Building Workshop, Interactive Drumming Performance), family-friendly attractions (Junkyard Symphony, bouncy castles, Latin-American Children’s Lawn Games), and lively music & dance performances that included Thai Dance, Folkloric Colombian dance, Ukrainian Songs, Lion & Dragon Dances, Venezuelan Song & Dance, a variety of Chinese Music & Dance, Moroccan Music & Dance, North-Indian Style Bollywood Dance, and Brazilian Music & Dance.

This year’s event featured 24 different performers, 17 food vendors, 20 craft vendors and artisans, 4 cultural booths, and approximately 6,000-6,500 participants!


2025
July 2025 will mark the Multicultural Festival’s 10th anniversary, and preparations are already underway towards ensuring it will be the event’s best year to date.