Huge 2-day Filipino festival featuring food and music coming to Mississauga

A huge, two-day Filipino festival comes to Mississauga this month.

Philippine Festival Mississauga 2023 planned for July 15 and 16 in Celebration Square is “bigger than ever,” according to organizers.

The event celebrates Filipino food, music, dance, arts and culture. There are vendors, performances and a kids’ village with bouncy castles, face painting, crafts and games.

The festival kicks off Saturday (July 15) at 11 a.m. and runs until 11 p.m. On Sunday, activities start at noon and wrap up at 7 pm.

Vendors serving Filipino food slated to attend include fvFoods, Bao Mama, elsa Lutong Bahay, Halo Halo and many more.

Filipino dancer, actor, and musician Gab Valenciano hits the stage on July 15.

And for the first time in Mississauga, “Asia’s Nightingale” singer Lani Misalucha, will perform on July 16.

Festival-goers can dance and sing along with the City Rhythm Band at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. And there is a full line-up of more music and performances planned.

The festival may be interrupted as banners for a “Haya Day Prade” have been spotted around the city. According to the banner and social media posts, the “prade” or parade is planned for July 15 at 1 p.m. at Celebration Square.

The event appears to be a protest of LGBTQ+ education in schools.

A City of Mississauga spokesperson says they are aware of the planned protest and say they recognize “the right of peaceful assembly.” The city does not issue permits for demonstrations, rallies, protests or vigils.

And while the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects peaceful protests, the city will intervene if there is a threat to the safety of others, damage to property or violence.

City staff contacted organizers of the protest to let them know they could be subject to charges under City of Mississauga park bylaws.

“When City staff become aware that a group plans to demonstrate on City property such as in the case noted, Security Services works to engage with the organizers of the protest as well as with Peel Regional Police to strike an appropriate balance between respecting peaceful assembly and protecting public health and safety,” the city spokesperson told insauga.com in an email.

“In addition, event organizers of the Philippine Festival, who have properly booked Celebration Square, have also been informed of the potential demonstration.”

For more information on the Philippine Festival Mississauga, see the website here.