The Festival had its beginnings as a small downtown event in 1977, organized by the Board of Directors from The Multicultural Centre in Guelph, and was held annually in the downtown core for 10 years. After a brief hiatus, the Festival was revived in 1996 due to overwhelming interest from other cultural groups. In 1997 the Board of Directors decided on a more suitable location for the growing Festival and thanks to a partnership between the City of Guelph and local businesses, it was moved to Riverside Park the following year to accommodate more visitors, food vendors, and performers. Since finding its new location, event attendance increased from 2,000 to 25,000 people and the content of the Festival has become more extensive.

Guelph is situated on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabek Peoples, specifically the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

Through Between the Lakes Purchase No. 3 Treaty (1792) the Mississaugas of the Credit ceded to the British Crown over 3 000 000 acres of land between Lakes Huron, Ontario and Erie.

Today, Guelph is home to many First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Guelph & District Multicultural Festival Inc. commits to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. We must do more to learn, share and support truth and healing.