More than 20 artists representing different cultures are part of this year’s World Culture Fusion Fest in North Bay this weekend.
The two-day festival begins on Saturday and ends on Sunday evening.
This is the second time the event has taken place.
“This festival is about inclusion, it’s about us as human beings, just one big family,” said organizer Justine Gogoua.
“First Nations, your African descendants, your Latin Americans, your French Canadians, this is your festival. This festival, we have almost covered the whole planet, we just miss China.”
She said the festival is unique compared to others held in the city and diversity is important.
“Our city is not as cold as people think, North Bay has diversity,” Gogoua said.
“We’ve made progress, but we still have a long way to go. You come to this festival, put your problems aside, let them go, absorb the music. Feed your soul and go home and say ‘ok, there is life in this town.'”
Free outdoor performances take place Saturday at the Community Theater on Main Street East.
On Sunday, the Franco-Fusion and Green Hive sessions will take place from noon to 5 p.m. at 176 Lakeshore and Big Medicine Studios on Couchie Memorial Drive.
At 6 p.m., African All Stars Fusion will feature food, dancing and music at the Lakeshore Drive venue.
As the festivities begin, planning for next year’s event has already begun, she said.
