By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — One of central Taiwan’s longest-running community festivals returns this weekend, bringing two days of live music, food and drinks to Taichung’s Civic Square (市民廣場).

The 23rd Compass Food & Music Festival will run from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, and from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20. Admission to the main festival is free.
Organized by Compass Magazine and the Compass Food & Music Festival, the annual event combines performances by Taiwan-based musicians with food and beverage stalls operated by restaurants, bars and other local businesses.
The festival began as a relatively modest, one-day celebration connected to Compass Magazine before developing into a regular fixture on Taichung’s cultural calendar. Earlier editions have attracted thousands of visitors to Civic Square, according to previous coverage by the Taipei Times.
This year’s program includes rock, acoustic music, DJs, African drumming and line dancing. Performers scheduled across the weekend include WASSA FOLI, Not the Spokesmen, The Shapemaster, School of Rock and San Jiao Mao (三腳貓).
Music begins at 12:30 p.m. on both days, with performances continuing until the festival closes.
A separate Saturday night after-party will be held from 9 p.m. to midnight at Rolling Bar on the fifth floor of the InterContinental Taichung Hotel (臺中勤美洲際酒店). Organizers have not indicated whether admission to the after-party is also free.
Updates on vendors, discounts and stage performances are available through Compass Magazine’s LINE account, @compassmagazine, or the festival’s Facebook event page.
