Event Details

Incorporated in 2021 upon completion of their new facility, The New Vedic Cultural Centre (VCC) is a registered non-profit organization located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Their vision is to provide a facility for the Thunder Bay community to participate in cultural events and spiritual growth and to promote multicultural arts, music, dance, and cuisine across Northwestern Ontario. The centre is home to a beautiful temple and offers a range of programs including Mantra Meditation, Bhagavad Gita teachings, Bhakti Yoga, and Kirtan. The VCC has a strong tradition of community programming, including its annual Festival of India and Festival of Colours and operates a weekly Food for Life/Prasadam program providing free vegetarian meals to community members every Sunday.

This application is for the "2026 Festival of India and Festival of Colours (Holi) ", a coordinated series of free, outdoor cultural festivals taking place in July and August across Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. Programming includes: (1) Thunder Bay, Marina Park (July 18 to 19): a Chariot Festival Parade on July 18 beginning at Marina Park, featuring a decorated chariot, live devotional music, and community participation. The main festival on July 19 features live stage performances in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Bhangra, and Garba with music and kirtan, yoga and wellness demonstrations, a children's activity zone, an Indian marketplace, and a vegetarian food festival; (2) Sault Ste. Marie, Roberta Bondar Park (July 25): a Festival of Colours event featuring scheduled colour throws every 30 to 45 minutes, DJ-led music and dance, cultural performances, youth-led activities, food vendors, and community booths; and (3) Sudbury, Bell Park (August 8): a Festival of Colours event with the same structured programming format as Sault Ste. Marie.