Featured Perfomance
焦點表演
Hakka Pavilion
客家館
Aug 23 -
Aug 24
8月23日 - 8月24日
12:00pm - 6:00pm
About the Program
Hakka Pavilion returns this year following last year’s overwhelmingly positive response, which brought together Hakka immigrants from around the world for meaningful exchange. Co-hosted by the Taiwanese Hakka Association of Toronto and Taiwanese Hakka Associations of America, this year’s program welcomes authors, scholars, indie bands, and performing arts groups from Taiwan to Canada. In addition, local communities have co-curated four cultural segments: Hakka Tea Ceremony & Poetry Recitation, The “Tail” of the Great Aunt Tiger Puppet Show, Dance & Fashion Showcase, and Undulating Moment.
Hakka Tea Ceremony & Poetry Recitation
Led by Ms. Sophia Chiu, the tea ceremony creates a serene atmosphere where the aroma of tea blends with the recitation of Hakka poems, allowing poetic emotions to gently unfold between each sip.
Where There is Light evokes joy and hope through imagery of light and shadow. Free and Unrestricted paints warmth and tenderness through the lens of compassion and care. The Taste of Hakka Oldest Dream recalls the tangy sweetness of golden kumquat jam, awakening deep-rooted taste memories of Hakka life.
As tea and poetry intertwine, you're invited to experience the delicate dance of language and emotion.
(Both Days)
12:30–1:30 PM
4:00–5:00 PM
5:00–6:00 PM
The “Tail” of the Great Aunt Tiger Puppet Show
Based on the well-known Taiwanese folktale “Tiger Auntie”—with a widely recognized version adapted by author Wang Shih-Lang—this puppet performance sets the story in a traditional Hakka village in Taiwan. Through humour and charm, the tale delivers an important message: be cautious of strangers. After the show, children in the audience will have a chance to meet and interact with the puppet characters.
(Both Days)
3:00–3:45 PM
Dance & Fashion Showcase
Follow the footsteps of two Hakka men—beating the gong and tilling the soil—as the rhythm of the land awakens the earth at dawn. On August 23, Hakka women gracefully arrive with oil-paper umbrellas, blooming like flowers after the rain. On August 24, they move into the kitchen, grinding rice and shaping each yuan-ban (Hakka rice dumpling) by hand, preserving the flavours of home and the textures of time.
Blending movement and costume, this performance bridges past and present, launching a fresh journey into Hakka fashion and cultural expression.
(Both Days)
1:45–2:30 PM
Undulating Moment
This sculpture, crafted from screen mesh, takes the shape of a fish, representing the vastness and enigma of the ocean. Adorning the side of the fish are embroidered Hakka flowers, which interact with the mesh to cast shadows that suggest movement. Ultimately, this artwork serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of all life, inviting contemplation on the beauty and fragility of nature.
Taiwanese Hakka Associations of America
We are a team devoted to the rich heritage of Taiwanese Hakka culture.
With passion for preserving the Hakka language, cuisine, dance , music and aesthetics.We engage in performances, education, design and intercultural exchange to share the depth and warmth of Hakka tradition and new contemporary with the world.
Olivia Kuo is a Toronto-based mixed media artist, blending graphic illustration, fashion, and interior design. Her bold, contemporary work challenges traditional notions of art, inviting viewers to see the world in new ways.
From the Curating Team
Contact Us
Performance / Vendor / Sponsorship Opportunities
TAIWANfest Toronto is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, that is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We acknowledge our privilege to be gathered here, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples of this land while we engage in meaningful conversations of culture and reconciliation.