Fourteen pavilions will return for the 27th annual event - Bulgaria, Canada, the Caribbean, Germany, Hawaii, India, Ireland, Italy, Macedonia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal and Ukraine - to offer the community a sample of the different cultures that make up Brampton.

Entertainment, displays, food and more will be showcased at the pavilions, which will each focus on their own themes, for the three-day festival that draws thousands of participants out each year.

To heighten multicultural exposure, organizer Angela Johnson said this year will feature additional entertainment that will travel to several different pavilions. A Brazilian dance group, for example, will make an appearance at some of this year's "countries".

"What we're trying to do is bring in entertainment from different cultures to hopefully get these other cultures interested so they'll eventually become a pavilion," said Johnson. "As well, some organizations don't have the bandwidth or manpower to put on their own pavilion so this gives them some exposure."

Children will have the opportunity to use a passport (free for kids 12 and under) this year to collect passport "stamps" and those who have a minimum of eight can enter a contest to win a Nintendo Wii and 10 other prizes.

There are also opportunities for kids with passports to be eligible for prizes at Brampton Day festivities, noted Johnson.

"We are hoping children will invite their parents to take them to Carabram," she said, noting the event is a family-friendly celebration and youngsters are encouraged to participate.

- Metroland News Service