Ignite Festival

A Global Festival of Food and Fire! Ignite brings you an evening of international eats, fire throwers, roving entertainment, and a raucous celebration of global culture! (Union Sq. Plaza and Lot / Rain date: 9/28)

We’re turning up the heat for the 13th annual Ignite Festival in Union Square! This vibrant outdoor event celebrates global culture, the city’s diverse culinary scene, and the creative energy of our local artists. This year we’re reimagining the Ignite Festival!  Expect more opportunities for hands-on experiences.

About the Food

For starters we’ll have micro-cooking classes (4-5:30), free to the public; our instructors will represent the countries of Bangladesh, Puerto Rico, Laos, and Haiti. And speaking of food, our vendor lineup is “fire,” as the kids say! The lineup consists of: MOLU Ghanaian Cuisine, Dos Manos Kitchen, Matki Artisanal Khulfi, Sinta Filipino, Masala Square, Siam Ginger, Gracie’s Ice Cream, and Union Square Pizza and Sub. So, we invite you to eat your way around the world, learn a new dish and/or cooking technique, “Test Your Nose” at the Nibble table, and share international food stories at our Global Food Map activity. And finally, don’t miss the perennial favorite, the incendiary curry eating contest, run by Masala Square. Dare to be contestant and prepare to have your head blown off. 

About the Entertainment

Union Square will be buzzing with music, dance, and fire. This year’s lineup brings a vibrant mix of cultural performances from around the world: Brinca Piranga gets things started with Bumba Meu Boi, a joyful, high-energy bull dance from Brazil. Pumawari Tusuy brings two vibrant pieces: Anaconda, flowing and fierce from the Peruvian Amazon, and La Valentina, a powerful Afro-Peruvian dance full of rhythm and soul. KS Dance Studio lights up the stage with Haitian Folklore, blending West African roots with dynamic, polyrhythmic movement. Tierra del Sol fills the square with color and spirit through traditional Mexican folk dance in stunning costume. And when night falls, Boston Circus Guild turns up the heat with a fire show that’s equal parts skill, drama, and pure spectacle.

And this year, we’re turning up the global vibes with DJ Philip Tan, joining us all the way from Singapore. He’ll be spinning a feel-good mix that crosses borders—salsa, bachata, Bollywood hits, reggae, K-pop, Arabic grooves, Japanese city pop, and more. It’s the kind of playlist that gets everyone moving.

All festival long, you’ll find interactive art, pop-up performers, jugglers, and our favorite giant Muchos Colores, the 10-foot-tall bird roaming the streets and sparking joy.

Thanks in advance to our festival photographer MyPhotoVan!