By all accounts, Surrey’s Fusion Festival was a huge success. Apparently more than 60,000 people showed up for the party on July 18-19. It was an amazing blend of food, music, arts and crafts all in Surrey City Centre’s Holland Park.

Over the two days, the party was hot and crowded, and the air was filled with wonderful smells and sounds that included everything from the Beatles to regge (sp?) and ballet.

It’s hard to fit it all in, with constantly changing performances and at least 3 stages to choose from. Some musicians even performed in their country’s tent.

Every tent had samples of food native to the country at hand. There was way to much to appreciate a taste of everything. So sad.

The timing was the same as the Vancouver Folk Festival, so there might have been even more people if the dates were separate. Just the same, living south of the Fraser, it’s nice not to have to cross a river to enjoy this type of thing.

I was there on Saturday, but living close by, I could hear the party through my open windows all the next day. Not sure I’d want to live next door, but from a half mile away, it was quite a treat.

I met a few current friends, some old friends, and made some new friends. Wish I was better with names though. They go in one ear and out the other, but I seldom forget a face. I’m better than I was, but it’s still embarrassing some times.

The stilt walkers were popular, as always. They seem to be at every outdoor party I go to. Goes with the territory, I guess. Hard to stilt walk in an auditorium or club, eh 😉

They sure are good at entertaining the kids. Wish I knew what their business was called, so I could give them credit. After all, this one was nice enough to pose for me and give me one of the best pictures all day. If anyone knows who they are, send me a note and let me know, please.

Here’s lookin’ at next year. This festival seems to be growing, and as Surrey’s ethnic communities become more diverse, we need to exposure to the positive parts of every culture. We hear too much about the troubling stuff every day in the news. Positive stuff is nice for a change.