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Fusion Festival draws 60,000 despite rain and stabbing

Attendance lower than last year, but annual Surrey event is still a big hit, say city organizers.
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Singer-songwriter Babe Gurr and her band perform on the Chevron Stage at the Surrey Fusion Festival on Sunday Night. Below

The Surrey Fusion Festival attracted thousands to Holland Park on the weekend, but a stabbing Sunday night put a damper on festivities.

An 18-year-old Surrey man is facing charges after a fight broke out at about 9 p.m. at the south end of the park. A 22-year-old Surrey man was stabbed in the back.

The victim was taken to a local hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Police believe the victim and the attackers were known to each other and say more arrests are expected.

It was an unfortunate ending to an extremely popular and well-attended event heading into its fourth year.

This year, about 60,000 people went to the weekend festival, which included pavilions from 36 different countries and an array of entertainment.

Laurie Cavan, Surrey’s general manager of parks, recreation and culture, said the rain also brought some challenges, reasoning that’s why the crowd dropped from 90,000 last year.

India won the best pavilion, coming in just ahead of Ukraine. Tying for third spot was Vietnam and Poland.

“Other than the weather, it was a great weekend,” Cavan said. “We had the most ever cultural pavilions... it was great food, great showcasing of cultures.”

Next year’s festival will take place on the same weekend Surrey is hosting the B.C. Summer Games.

“We’re looking at ways to work on synergies between the two events,” Cavan said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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