World Fair to return to Fort St. John in 2025 with performances, exhibits, food

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John’s Festival Plaza and Centennial Park will play host to the world this coming weekend.

The World Fair will feature cultural and community tables, stage performances, games, exhibits and food trucks.

It has been organized by Fort St. John’s chapter of S.U.C.C.E.S.S., an outfit providing newcomers to Canada supports in a number of aspects with assistance from province-wide anti-racism network Resilience BC.

According to organizer Ovvian Castrillo-Hill, the event is a continuation of a fair which last took place in 2020.

From Resilience B.C. came a local branding, Good I.D.E.A. FSJ, standing for inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility.

“We had different non-profits sit at the table,” said Castrillo-Hill. “Afterward we sat down to figure out ‘what do we do now?’

“We were trying to think of a project that would be good to continue, and everyone at the table thought maybe we should revive the World Fair. It’s something that’s enjoyable, that’s community-based and it has more focus on building community than anything else.”

As a Filipino-Canadian, Castrillo-Hill was at the Filipino booth at a previous fair, something she described as “enjoyable.”

Local residents will represent their country of origin at booths, with fairgoers having access to learn about different countries’ cultures, customs, cuisines and more.

In addition, performers will be taking the stage at Centennial Park with acts pertaining to countries around the globe every 45 minutes.

“Some could be dances,voices or instruments,” said Castrillo-Hill. “Basically to have a snippet of part of the performance or artistic part of the culture of some countries.”

Booths at the event will include, but are not limited to: Colombia, India, Japan, Jordan, the Philippines and Ukraine will be there.  A representative from Tanzania, Ukrainian dancers and Latin dancers will also be on stage.  

Local singer Abigail Ryder will sing some Canadian songs representing Canada.

Food trucks and games will also be at the afternoon event.

Also, non-profit organizations will be at the event to showcase some of their services.

Passports will be distributed at the event, with stamps when participants head to each booth, with a raffle for a prize at the end.

Castrillo-Hill says she hopes the free admission will entice some attendees of the Spring Fair to come and see the event.

Sponsorship for the World Fair has been provided by the City of Fort St. John, the Northeast Community Fund and ConocoPhillips.

“If people are out they might as well swing by,” said Castrillo-Hill.

The 2025 World Fair will take place on Sunday, May 25th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Festival Plaza and Centennial Park off 100th Street.

More information is available at S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’s  Fort St. John Service’s Facebook page or by phone at (250) 785-5323.