(This story is sponsored by Asian Canadian Special Events Association.)

Since 1990, TAIWANfest has grown to become the largest English/Mandarin bilingual cultural festival in Canada. The upcoming annual event is set to take place in downtown Vancouver from Saturday to Monday (September 1 to 3), and thousands of visitors are anticipated to attend.

Continuing the Dialogues with Asia series, this year’s Fête with the Philippines will celebrate multiculturalism and explore the social concept of a “mestizo” way of life.

And Taiwan and the Philippines have some things in common. They are two Pacific island nations that have experienced colonization by larger western and East Asian countries. And both have Indigenous populations with related languages.

With as many as 182 different languages and dialects in the Philippines, the festival will tell the often overlooked stories and cross-cultural influences with Taiwan. With inspiring visual arts, exciting performances, tantalizing culinary treats, intriguing lifestyle experiences, as well as workshops, visitors are sure to gain a new perspective on Taiwanese culture. And, more broadly, the organizers hope to bring to light the value of migrant-bolstered societies.

In film, fashion, food, visual arts, crafts, music, and even science there are cultural connections to be found. And TAIWANfest aims to honour diversity and cultivate meaningful dialogues between people from different backgrounds.

To kick off the three-day festivities, the Opening Concert will return to the newly renovated Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza featuring the music of Juno nominee, Warren Dean Flandez, alongside the award-winning Auba Rukai Children's Choir. Through song, this Rukai school passes on its traditional language and heritage to the next generation. And in this Canadian debut, the choir will not only share their music, but will also represent their tribe to forge new relations with indigenous Canada.

Austronesian connections reunite with performances from the talented 13-year-old cellist, Jamie Chan, as well as melodies by SFU Concert Orchestra, and glamourous couture by Taiwan’s first Filipino migrant artist, Mario Subeldia. See the complete schedule of events to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the other festival highlights.

All events at TAIWANfest are free of charge and offer important and timely lessons on appreciating our own heritage and identities, while celebrating others.

TAIWANFest 2018 takes place from Saturday to Monday (September 1 to 3) at various downtown Vancouver locations, including the Vancouver Art Gallery and Granville Street. To learn more, visit taiwanfest.ca/.