Burnaby plays host this weekend to one of the Lower Mainland's largest multicultural gatherings.
The 13th annual Korean Cultural Heritage Festival at Swangard Stadium is expected to attract more than 15,000 people on Saturday.
"We spent the most money on marketing this year, so with some luck and people's interest, we're hoping for a bigturn out," said spokesperson Mike Suk.
The first festival in 2001 was held in Burnaby but then was moved to Coquitlam for the following years. Organizers were able to bring it back this year, thanks in part to a $15,000 grant from the city.
"Burnaby is the heart of the Korean community in B.C. It is a central location that's accessible to everyone and it's where the majority of Korean-Canadians live and work." Suk said.
The vibe in the stadium will be a little different this time around. While previous festivals focused on Korean heritage, this one will be infused with a lot more modernity.
"Korea is evolving and has become a leader in fashion, music and martial arts. We want to draw in modern elements, how our culture has changed, but have some of the traditional aspects intertwined," Suk said.
Highlights include K-pop, a taekwondo tournament, a traditional drum dance performance and a reenactment of a royal wedding. "The audience will get a chance to see what our customs looked like 1,000 years ago."
One thing Suk is confident all people will enjoy is the grub.
"For the first time, we're bringing in real mom and pop food, real locals cooking. It's all healthy with no MSG," he said.
Suk and his team, the Korean Cultural Heritage Society, have been planning the festival since January. Over 300 volunteers will be on hand to do the setup and teardown.
There is no admission fee. Doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. For more information, visit koreanfestival.ca or check out the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kchsfestival.
