Most people think the hardest part of organizing an event is funding or securing a venue.
But over the past few years, I've come to realize something: the biggest challenge isn't putting the event together — it's finding people who genuinely want to walk this journey with you.
Behind every festival, there are many people involved. Some show up once, some stay for a while, and some realize along the way that this isn't for them. That's completely normal, because building a festival has never been easy.
Of course, there have been setbacks. There are moments when you start to question yourself — whether you've been too idealistic, whether this is something that's actually possible to do well.
But reaching the fifth year feels like a meaningful milestone. Because at this point, I understand something much more clearly: the true value of a festival isn't what happens in any single year. It's whether it can keep growing, and keep being reimagined over time.
Many people will be part of a festival's story. But what really carries it into its fifth year — and beyond — are those who are still willing to keep pushing it forward.
Looking back, my biggest takeaway isn't how many events I've created. It's gaining clarity on one thing: who are the people truly meant to stay and build this together.
And this story is still being written.
— Eric YangFounder, Canada Bubble Tea Festival
