Events
What happens when the Filipino jeepney arrives in Belleville?
Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 25, 2026
Photo Courtesy: Bay of Quinte
CANADA – What if one of the Philippines’ most familiar symbols could bring a little piece of home to a Canadian city?
That is the idea behind Jeepney Festival, a two-day Filipino cultural celebration taking place September 25 and 26 at Maranatha Church in Belleville, Ontario, bringing Filipino food, art, music and traditions together under one roof.
The inaugural festival opens Friday evening with a Filipino art exhibit featuring works by the Philippine Artists Group of Canada, followed by a screening of Outsiderness, a film by Carlo Alcos that explores questions of identity and belonging.
Saturday turns the venue into a broader community gathering, with Filipino food vendors, a marketplace and cultural performances throughout the day. Visitors can also take part in parol-making, Baybayin calligraphy and traditional Filipino children’s games.
The celebration also puts Filipino talent and storytelling in the spotlight. Culture Philippines of Ontario will present cultural dances, while local performers and Igorot dancer Tiara Brynn Malubay will take the stage.
Beyond food and entertainment, the festival creates space for conversations about Filipino identity and life in Canada. A Filipino authors roundtable hosted by Salaysay Collective and an immigration information session by the Quinte Local Immigration Partnership are among the activities planned.
Photo Courtesy: Bay of Quinte
And then there are the distinctly Filipino moments: a pandesal-eating contest, karaoke, Zumba and community gatherings that turn familiar pieces of Filipino life into a shared experience far from the Philippines.
At its heart, the Jeepney Festival is about more than a weekend of activities. The jeepney has long represented movement, community and everyday life in the Philippines. In Belleville, that same symbol is being used to bring people together — connecting Filipino heritage with a new home in Canada.
Admission is free, although tickets are required, making the festival an open invitation to experience a little bit of the Philippines in the heart of Ontario.
