Taste of Asia, Canada’s largest Asian street festival, is returning to Markham from June 24-26.
The event hosts over 180,000 attendees annually with food, vendors, live stage shows, concerts, competitions, contests and much more. The result is an exciting, high-energy event that has been celebrating harmony, cuisine and culture for the past two decades.
The chairman of the Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham, Dr Ken Ng, has recently expressed that he is happy and excited to welcome people back to the streets of Markham and to enjoy the tasty Asian food.
Taste of Asia began in 2003, as a method of recovery in the wake of the SARS outbreak. It became a platform for the community to promote the multicultural mosaic of Canada and create harmony between various cultural groups in an event that fostered mutual respect and cooperation.
Since then, collaboration, sharing, and celebration have grown more and more. Even during the pandemic, Taste of Asia was held virtually and attended by thousands.
Making this year’s return even more special, the Taste of Asia welcomes those who are here to attend Canada’s first ever hosting of the World Hakka Festival. The 31st World Hakka Festival is being held in Markham alongside the Taste of Asia street festival.
The World Hakka Conference is an event attended by thousands of Hakkas from around the world. In the half century history of the World Hakka Conference, it is only the third time that North America has hosted the event, the previous two were in San Francisco in 1978 and 1988.
Opening night of the street festival features a Hakka-themed show to welcome delegates.
Taste of Asia is organized by the City of Markham, Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham, and the Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada.
The Taste of Asia is held June 24-26 on Kennedy Rd, beginning at Steeles and running north.
