South Asian Family Festival

The South Asian Family Festival (SAF) is a new event in Vancouver. It showcases Indian, Punjabi and other artists at the Pacific National Exhibition.

The festival doesn’t happen during the PNE Fair which is during the last three weeks of the summer. Instead, the South Asian Family Festival takes place on the fairgrounds of the Pacific National Exhibition as its own independent event on a Sunday in mid-June.

JUNE 22ND EVENT POSTPONED!

Note: The organizers were going to hold the event on June 22nd, 2025, but they postponed it. If and when it takes place in the future is to be determined. Perhaps later this year or next, but with exact details to be confirmed.

SAF Festival in Vancouver

The inaugural SAF Festival is a one-day event featuring amusement rides, music, market vendors, fashion designers, food, arts and culture. The event last took place in 2023. Over 10,000 people attendeded.

The event showcases South Asian performances and a fashion show, and features food stalls, market vendors, and around 25 Playland amusement rides.

If you like South Asian cuisine, you need to take along your appetite. There’s no shortage of eclectic foods scattered throughout the fairgrounds to choose from and enjoy. You can also browse or buy products such as traditional jewellery and clothing.

When and Where

The 2025 edition of the South Asian Family Festival was supposed to happen on Sunday, June 22nd, at the PNE Fairgrounds. When it does happen, the rides, entertainment and family-friendly things to see and do run from 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm.

Festival Tickets

Prior to being postponed, earlybird tickets for the 2025 event cost $45 each. Regular rates were to be confirmed.

General admission includes access to all the concerts, the festival’s fashion show, rides and other activities. Parking at the venue is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Festival Performers (in 2023)

The last time the event ran in 2023, the South Asian Family Festival’s headlining performer was Gippy Grewal who is an award-winning actor and singer. He is also involved in the Hindi and Punjabi film industry as a producer and director. As a singer, the artist is famous for Phulkari. He is also well known for his role in the movie Mel Karade Rabba.

Other artists at the festival in 2023 included the following:

Avvy Sra – a singer famous for songs like Judge, White Brown Black and Babe Bhangra Paunde Ne.
Barbie Maan – a Punjabi singer known for Meriyan Saheliyan and Ajj Kal Ve.
Gagan Kokri – the Punjabi singer performed Rise and Shine and Chill Mode at the festival.
Gur Sidhu – an Indian singer and songwriter known for Moved On, 8 Parche and Bro Oye.
Happy Raikoti – a Punjabi musician and actor known for the song Jaan and the film Teshan.
Maninder Buttar – the Punjabi singer and songwriter behind hits such as Sakhiyann, Ik Tera, Pani Di Gal, Laare and Yaari.
Sukh E – an Indian singer and songwriter famous for songs like Coka and All Black.

As of early June, the 2025 schedule was to be confirmed. However, the festival has since been postponed.

Other Information

Visit safvancouver.com to learn more about this festival.

South Asian countries are usually considered to be those on and around the Indian subcontinent. They include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. About 14% of Metro Vancouver’s population of approximately 2.65 million people are of South Asian descent.

Other South Asian events in the Lower Mainland include the following:

Vancouver Vaisakhi Festival – a large parade celebrating a Sikh holiday in April.
Surrey Vaisakhi Parade – a large Sikh festival and parade in Surrey in April.
5X Festival – an arts and music festival.
Indian Summer Festival – an arts festival featuring South Asian, Canadian and Indigenous artists in July.
Monsoon Arts Festival – a music and arts festival in the summer.
Diwali Fest – a South Asian cultural festival with events in autumn.

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