Peace, unity and music among themes at this year’s GlobalFest fireworks show

Good news if you want to head to Calgary’s fireworks festival and haven’t yet grabbed a ticket: GlobalFest tickets for the Mexico Night performance tonight have been discounted.

GlobalFest is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year as the annual fireworks and multicultural festival returns to Elliston Park in northeast Calgary.

The festival is set to run between Aug. 18 and 27 – and Calgarians should expect new participants in the fireworks festival – with an anti-war finale, numerous performances by multicultural groups in two of the main stages, a citizenship ceremony and lots of food.

Who will participate in the fireworks display, and what’s the finale about?

This year's fireworks display includes performances from India, Austria, France and Germany and the finale will focus on anti-war messages.

India’s fireworks display is called “Team India’s Journey through Various Popular Music Genres,” which promises to “bring the audience on a musical journey going through some of India’s top musical tracks.” The designer is Azan Morani, of Amir Morani Fireworks LLP.

Austria’s fireworks display is called “The Sound of Music,” which promises to take the viewer through a “emotional journey through Austria while showing the diversity of nature and music,” and says that an attentive viewer would see similarities to Canada. The designer of the show is Markus Jochum of Fireevent GMBH.

“Generation 80,” France's submission, will take the viewer through the greatest musical hits of the 1980s, and vows “make Elliston Park dance.” The designer of the show is Miguel Perez of the Etienne Lacroix Tous Aritificies Sa (Ruggieri).

The display from Germany is called “We are One” and it highlights the simple message that the “world is looking for peaceful unity and diversity.” The designer of the show is Florian Thomas Michaelis of Union Creatives.

Finally, the anti-war fireworks display is called “Wind of Change.” Kelly Guille of Archangel Fireworks Inc., the designer, says that there is no place in the current world for war, and that “we await the day that our leaders will stand in action, not only in words” to protect the people.

What about the performances by multicultural groups?

There will be numerous performances by groups on the two stages in GlobalFest: on the TD Main Stage and the Air Canada stage.

On the TD Main Stage, performers from the following will be performing:

• Phillippines;
• Indonesia;
• Blackfoot Crossing;
• China;
• India;
• Kurdistan;
• Bangladesh;
• Thailand;
• Chile;
• Japan;
• Senegal;
• Scotland;
• Turkiye (the new name for Turkey);
• Hungary;
• Francophonie Calgary;
• Iran;
• Brazil;
• Ukraine;
• Pakistan;
• Mexico;
• Venezuela; and
• Azerbaijian.

On the Air Canada Stage, performers from the following will be performing:

• Iran;
• China;
• India;
• Kurdistan;
• Thailand;
• Philippines;
• Chile;
• Indonesia;
• Japan;
• Mexico;
• Francophonie Calgary;
• Scotland;
• Blackfoot Crossing;
• Bangladesh;
• Hungary;
• Ukraine;
• Pakistan;
• Turkiye;
• Brazil;
• Venezuela; and
• Senegal.

What about the citizenship ceremony?

There will be a citizenship ceremony from 6 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. at the Air Canada Stage. This citizenship ceremony has been a “important part” of GlobalFest’s programming, and is in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The citizenship ceremony is where permanent residents of Canada will be taking the Oath of Citizenship when it comes to Canada, as well as getting the citizenship certificate – as well as signing the Oath of Affirmation of Citizenship form, and singing the national anthem. Effectively, they will become citizens of Canada.

And what about the food?

There will be numerous food booths and food trucks, about 27 which will be participating. They are:

• Indonesian Kitchen;
• Phillippine Authentic Cuisine Kiosk;
• Taste of Vietnam;
• The Blues Delight;
• Uzu Ice Cream;
• Ami Tea;
• Caribbean Food Booth;
• Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen;
• Il Formo Vagabono Wood Fired Pizza;
• Greta Food Truck;
• Taiko Taco;
• WannaWaffle;
• Empanada Queen;
• Food Coma Elevated Street Food;
• Lil Orbits Mini Donuts;
• Sugar Creek Kettle Corn/Old Faire Gourmet Popcorn;
• The Nut Man Company;
• Bumble Bee Basket Inc.;
• Dumpling Heto;
• Family Squeezed Lemonade;
• So Yum Ehhh;
• Shahba Shawarma;
• Sugar Creek Kettle Corn/Old Faire Gourmet Popcorn;
• Arepas Ranch;
• Jane Bond BBQ;
• The Pie Guy; and
• Canadian Bear Balls.