Postponement Note: Because of rain, Compass Magazine has decided to postpone the 2015 Compass International Food & Music Festival and reschedule it for Sept. 19-20, 2015.  (May 21 update)

Compass Magazine once again celebrates its birthday at the 2015 Compass Taichung International Food & Music Festival

Words by Douglas Habecker
Translated by S. Ying

Like most cities around Taiwan, Taichung is an endlessly-evolving place that is constantly in flux, as restaurants, shops, bars, cafes and other businesses come and go on a weekly basis. That means that one can leave this city for a few months, return, and be surprised by the changes. It also means that it's a good idea to stay on top of the latest city developments and changes by checking an excellent, regularly-updated information source...like, perhaps, Compass Magazine.

Nevertheless, some city institutions don't change too much and that's a positive in the case of the Compass Taichung International Food & Music Festival, which will be taking place for its 12th straight year on the weekend of May 23-24 at its usual "home", the Art Museum Parkway (a.k.a. Art Parkway, Wuquan Parkway). For people who are visiting, just arrived, or haven't been paying much attention, it's also a great way to enjoy an excellent cross-section of the city's restaurants, bars, shops and other businesses, not to mention Taichung-based bands, musicians and other performers, over two days in one compact space. This value has been proven by the growing number of out-of-town folks who venture down to Taichung for this weekend of fun from Taipei, Kaohsiung and elsewhere.

As usual, very large crowds (total weekend estimates have ranged between 15,000 and 20,000 people) are expected to descend upon the grassy expanse of the Art Museum Parkway (see site map) on both days between 1 and 9 p.m. to roam around, stretch out, eat, drink, listen to music, dance and/or chill out among the 60-70 booths operated by local restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, artists, non-profit organizations and other vendors, and in front of the main stage, where nonstop live music and performances across a fairly wide spectrum will take place.

Compass Festival originally began as an international food festival back in 2004 and many people make the event their international dining room for the weekend. This multinational cornucopia will include Anatolia Turkish Restaurant, Indian Fast Food, Anita's Cantina Mexican restaurant, Chillies Indian Restaurant, Oldies Franks hot dogs, Pu Tao Yuan teahouse, French Bread Bomb, and much more. For those wanting to cool down in the May heat, the festival's long-time exclusive Official Beer Sponsor, Taiwan Beer, will be offering its usual range of beers--plus a brand-new product--for unbeatable prices.

Besides food and drink, other vendors will include Jandeys footwear, Bura T-shirts, World Gym, Heart of Taiwan Animal Care, Taichung Universal Animal Protection Association, Taipei Language Institute, artist Jon Renzella, Providence University, Taichung Hash House Harriers, Three Stars Nepal handicrafts and decorations, and decoupage bags.

Original live music, provided almost exclusively by Taichung-area local and foreign musicians and bands, has become the festival's other main attraction over its history. Given the current less-than-optimal live music scene in the city, this event provides a unique, unrivaled and convenient opportunity to sample and enjoy a full range of local live music, including classic rock, hip hop, reggae, punk rock, folk and other styles. Bands confirmed as this magazine went to print include Dread Rider, Dr. Reniculous Lipz & the Skallunz, MET(A)4, Peaks, and Reider Band. This year will even see a Japanese taiko drum performance, sponsored by Tanzih Orchid Garden, of the Taichung-based Huludun Smile Taiko Drum Troupe, a group led by Director Feng Yun-Yi and made up of local teenagers, which recently took third place among 54 teams at an international taiko competition in Japan.

Compass Magazine organizes this large-scale festival each year to not only showcase the best that Taichung has to offer when it comes to dining, nightlife, music and entertainment, but also to celebrate the birthday of the publication, which shares the festival's goals as it introduces the city to readers each month. Rain (highly unlikely) or shine (much more likely), everyone is invited to join Compass and the crowds at this year's Compass Festival and have some fun.

Be sure to stop by the Compass Magazine booth, say hello and meet its staff, editors and publishers. We'll see you there!