Media Kit - A Midsummer's Dream FINAL

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Ontario’s premier colour festival
Table of Contents
Are you ready? | page 1
Our story | page 2
What to do | page 3
Where are we | page 4
Statistics/Attendance | page 5
In the Media | page 6
Advisory Committee |page 7
Sponsors and Partners | page 8
The History of Holi | page 10
Celebrating South Asia’s
Independence | page 11
Contact Us | page 12

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Ontario’s premier colour festival | 1
Are you ready?
On August 15th, Hamilton will show
its true colours.

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Our Story
A MIDSUMMER’S DREAM is one of the liveliest festivals in
Hamilton, Ontario. This colour festival and food-raiser is held at Gage Park and features live
music, a large yogafest, food, a do-it-yourself arts and crafts tent, a sports zone, a tea
lounge, a craft vendor market and an abundance of colour throwing. It is FREE entrance for
our sprightliest festival-goers!
Inspired by the Hindu festival called “Holi”, a Midsummer’s Dream is a celebration of unity,
peace, happiness and joy. This festival has grown from 800 attendees in its inaugural year
in 2012 to an attendance of 4,000 in 2014. This year on August 15th, we’re aiming for our
greatest success yet. We’re not just dreamers, we’re also doers. To date, we have raised just
over 5,300 lbs. of food for local food banks. This year, our food bank partner is Living Rock
Ministries in support of street-involved youth and we hope to raise 3,500 lbs. of food.
This year our festival falls on India’s Independence Day. We are happy to announce A
Midsummer’s Dream
has partnered with
the Hindu Samaj
Temple to host South
Asia’s Independence
day celebrations for
the very first time this
year.
Our objective?
When A Midsummer’s
Dream was created, it
was created with a
single purpose. The
purpose to aid with
the movement in
helping humanity
push forward towards
a bright new future
that embodies inclusion, balance, and service. It was created to serve as a massive force for
good in the community, and to create a spiritual vibration that would echo through the
energies of the people who attend. We want to bring a diverse group of people together and
encourage them to do acts of good and make positive changes in their communities. We
want to honour the principles of Holi, and share that message here in Hamilton, in hopes of
opening the hearts and minds of all who attend.

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Our Festival
What to Do
WHAT: Colour festival and food donation raiser
WHEN: August 15, 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Gage Park, 1000 Main St. E
A Midsummer’s Dream has something for everyone.
● COLOURS: Every 20 minutes, we gather in a big group and throw colours in the air
to signify how all people of all walks of life can come together and create something
beautiful.
● MUSIC: This year, we will be featuring talented musicians and artists on the Judy
Marsales Stage such as Young Empires and Sophia Shy and many more. The
diverse genres of music that will be played are Rock, EDM, Indian Sitar, Kirtan
Chanting and Alternative.
● FITNESS: Fitness fan? Have a shot at Bubble Soccer or an inflatable obstacle
course, hosted by Hamilton Sports Multiplex.
● COMMUTE: Ride your bike to the festival and park it in our Mountain Equipment Co-
op sponsored bike valet. Store your bike for $2.
● FOOD: Hungry? Grab a bite from our Food Sponsor Narula’s or other food vendors.
● CREATIVITY: The Temple of Creativity will satisfy anyone looking to get his or her
art on. We’ve got origami, incense making workshops, tie-dye workshops, and an
abundance of arts and craft materials that should make anybody an artist.
● YOGA: Send a mighty warm thank you to iHELP Entertainment; they’re bringing
Yogafest to a Midsummer’s Dream! Enjoy free yoga in the park. Namaste.
● SHOP: Shop and explore our craft vendor market.

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Gage Park
Where are we?
For the past three years, Gage Park in downtown Hamilton has provided A
Midsummer’s Dream with a home and they have blessed us again. The park is the
perfect environment for families, kids and teens alike and a festival of this kind.

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Statistics
800attendees in year one (2012)
4,000 attendees in year three (2014)
Over 5,300 lbs. in food
donations to date
Over 7,067 likes on Facebook
ATTENDANCE
800 in 2012 2,500 in 2013 4,000 in 2014

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In the Media
“We become all the same, suddenly.”
“It started as a dream to get people together to celebrate,
regardless of their race, gender or background.”
“The energy was incredible; I always feel so uplifted at this
event. It really is something so unique and special.”
“Mid Summer's Dream has the look of a potential fixture of
Hamilton's festival season.”

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Advisory Committee
Advisory Committee Members Left to Right:
Cat Love - Hamilton Regional Indian Centre
Rosy Narula - Narula’s Indian Food and Banquet Hall
Tracee Halloway - Digital Canaries
Daniel Dinizo - iHelp Entertainment
Joanna Bis - iHelp Entertainment
Anthony DiDomenico - iHelp Entertainment
Mark Gowland - Midsummer’s Dream Organizer
Sherry Mousavi - sherryinthecity.com
Baldeep Randhawa - Programming Director for Sound of Music Festival
Christina Aikey - Mohawk College Journalism Intern
Kayla Perna (Missing) - Mohawk College Journalism Intern
Nick Fotache - RevUp Group
Remi Panchal - President - Hindu Samaj Temple

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Sponsors and Partners
Presenting Sponsors
Media Partners

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Manifestor Sponsors
Shared Dreamers

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The History of Holi
Holi is an ancient festival celebrated in India and its significance is celebrated across the
world. This festival encourages the dissolution of false social barriers that we have to one
another.
Holi is a festival that is traditionally celebrated in spring, it is also known as the
festival of colours or the festival of love. Recently, it has become popular with non-Hindus in
many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other communities outside Asia.
Holi celebrations start with a bonfire on the night before Holi where people gather,
sing and dance. The next morning is when the colour festival begins and participants play,
chase and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water, with some carrying water
guns and coloured water-filled balloons for their water fight. Anyone and everyone is fair
game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders. The frolic and
fight with colours occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings.
Groups carry drums and musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance.
People visit family, friends and foes to throw colours on each other, laugh and chit-chat, then
share Holi delicacies, food and drinks.
The festival celebrates various legends (such as the legend of Lord Shiva and
Kaamadeva), which reassure the people of the power of the truthfulness. The general moral
of these legends is the triumph of good over evil, and it breaks down the false barriers that
we have between one another.
In addition, it is a celebration of springtime, and the disregard of social norms. The ritual of
throwing colours on each other
allows people to “throw off the
gloom of winter” and revel in
enjoyment.
Photo credit: happynew-year.org
Holi has blessed us with the
inspiration for a Midsummer’s
Dream, and we have done our best
to honour the tradition of holi, by
throwing colours, and providing a
wonderful and uplifting experience
for our attendees, we celebrate our
livelihood, our diversity and our
unity. We celebrate peace and
love, and as we are all covered in these vibrant hues, we are all truly one.
To learn more about the origins of Holi, its legends and its traditions, visit
http://www.holifestival.org/ or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi

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Celebrating South Asia’s
Independence
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, we are happy to announce that the Hindu Samaj
Temple of Hamilton and the South Asian Business Community will be hosting a
South Asian Independence celebration at A Midsummer’s Dream this year.
South Asia’s Independence day festivities are celebrated from August 14th to the
15th, and we are happy to partner with the South Asian community to make this
event truly extraordinary. We will have traditional games, Indian food from Narula’s
Indian Eatery & Banquet Hall, and much more!
Some activities include Henna Tattoos, Rangoli Arts and Crafts, Incense Selling,
traditional Indian bangle bracelets, as well as information about the history and the
cultural significance of Holi. This is a wonderful opportunity to educate people about
the South Asian community and give the opportunity for people to experience the
culture.
Every year, the Hindu Samaj Temple hosts its own Independence Day celebration. It
is a privilege that they have agreed to integrate their event with A Midsummer’s
Dream, and we are so very happy to have them at our beloved festival.

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CONTACT US
Mark Gowland, Event Founder
Email hamiltoncolour@gmail.com
Phone 905 577 7306
Kayla Perna, PR & Social Media Coordinator
Email kaylaperna@gmail.com
Christina Aikey, PR & Social Media Coordinator
Email christina.aikey@icloud.com
Sherry Mousavi, PR & Media Lead
Email sherry.mousavi@gmail.com

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