Carassauga is an incorporated non-profit volunteer community organization, which will be celebrating its 33rd Anniversary in 2018. It operated for the first time in 1986 with 10 Pavilions, initially operating only on Saturday and Sunday.  It was created in response to a challenge put out by  Mayor Hazel McCallion to all ethno cultural groups at a meeting of her calling in the old City Hall in the fall of 1985.  It quickly evolved into a 3-day, 22 hour event.

The Festival has become an important annual event in Mississauga’s calendar, and its popularity has steadily increased in recent years.  It  is the largest multicultural Festival in Ontario and is now recognized as the 2nd largest cultural Festival in Canada in terms of visits & ethnic diversity representation.

The organization attributes its success to the many volunteer leaders on the Board who have tirelessly devoted their time and expertise to running the annual 3-day event. In 2017,  5,213  Performers supported by 6,668 Volunteers created an incredible multi cultural experience.  The community’s commitment over the years to honouring and showcasing Mississauga’s multicultural landscape is unsurpassed.

Carassauga Facts 2017

• Over 70 countries represented at 31 Pavilion Locations, throughout Mississauga
• 5,213 Performers and 202 Artisans
• 997 Performances
• 385,682 Recorded Visits
• 6,668 Volunteers involved with the Festival
• 419,505 Volunteer Hours Donated
• 22 Hours of Operation