Ready for Festival of Light: Diwali on Oct. 26 at Clarke Theatre

diwali-jpeg-for-social-mediaFestival of Light:  Diwali is set for Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Clarke Theatre at Heritage Park Centre in Mission.

“It promises to be a multicultural night of food, festivity and fun for the Fraser Valley,’’ says Sanjay Gulati, executive director of Mission Community Services Society (MCSS).

This year the theatre lobby will be transformed into a marketplace where patrons will be able to purchase jewelry and other accessories, sample foods, visit community booths and have their hands painted by henna artists.

A free ethnic buffet dinner will be served in the cafetorium just after 5 p.m. and features vegetarian fare and dessert. Some 1,200 samosas are available.

Entertainment begins at 6 p.m. with Dasmesh Punjabi School youth dance and instrumental performers, a multicultural component of Irish, Mexican and Ukrainian dance numbers, plus the University of the Fraser Valley Bhangra team and more.

Even Norden the Magician is making an appearance!

Emcees this year are Satti Grewal and Abbotsford City Coun. Kelly Chahal. A MCSS crew will adorn the Clarke Theatre entrance with more than 1,000 small lights.

Some 20 sponsors helped make this a free public celebration. Donations of non-perishable food items are being accepted at the event for the MCSS Food Centre. For more Festival of Light information call Rick Rake at MCSS:  604-826-3634.

(For images from the 2014 show:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.742669292483778.1073741846.352367314847313&type=1&l=ab77c0a4fb).