Ramadan Fest B.C., which organizers say is the largest night market of its kind in Canada, returned to Surrey for its second year, drawing thousands of visitors to the Cloverdale Agriplex for four nights of food, shopping and community gatherings.

The festival opened Thursday and runs through Sunday with organizers expecting nearly 50,000 attendees over the four-day event.

It takes place during Ramadan, a sacred month in Islam when observers abstain from food, drink and other pleasures during daylight hours, but at night, they often gather with loved ones to feast and pray. Gifts are often exchanged during Ramadan, and Muslims make a point of donating to charity during this time. 

For many attendees, the evening market offers a place to gather after breaking the daily fast.

“It’s all about giving back. It’s all about breaking bread together and being one community,” said Yosof Hakimi with Salaam Events, one of the organizers.

Hakimi said the festival has grown significantly since its debut last year and now features more than 100 vendors, including about 20 food stalls serving cuisines from around the world.

But he says the event is about more than food and shopping.

“At this stage in the world there are so many problems everywhere,” Hakimi said, referring to ongoing tensions and conflict in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

“It’s a month of Ramadan that kind of grounds people and brings everybody together.”

Fatima Dedovic, one of the attendees, said the atmosphere of the event reflects the values Ramadan encourages.

“When you’re in a multi-ethnic setting, everybody’s equal,” she said. “We’re all humans, doesn’t matter which country you’re from, we should know that we’re all equal and have the same path.”

Organizers say the event has also drawn many non-Muslim visitors curious to learn more about Ramadan and Islamic culture.

For vendors, the festival is also a chance to share their heritage with the wider community.

Maysa Omoor, who travelled from Calgary to sell Palestinian embroidered clothing and accessories, said events like this help showcase traditions that might otherwise be unfamiliar to many Canadians.

Among the many offerings such as prayer mats, hijabs and books are checkered scarfs known as Palestinian keffiyeh, which she says represents the country’s identity and its symbol of resistance against oppression.

“This is the second year for me to come here and it’s a very great opportunity for me to meet people to show our culture, our heritage to people here in Surrey and Vancouver,” she said. 

Others see the market as a chance to launch or grow small businesses.

Mehveen Qureshi and Zaid Sayeed, founders of Surrey-based Mezos Fragrances, say the event gives them exposure as they build their young company.

Their perfumes blend scents commonly found in the Middle East such as oud with lighter North American fragrances.

“That’s basically our fusion, so you get the best of both worlds,” said Qureshi. “You get the fresh, you get the floral, but you also get the leather, musk.”

Qureshi said they hope their business reflects the spirit of community that Ramadan encourages.

“When you’re trying to build something, it’s about building together,” she said. “We just want peace for everyone.”

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a holiday marking the breaking of the fast. This year, the holy month is expected to conclude around March 19.