Tantalising tastes, vibrant colours and eclectic sounds from around the globe will once again fill the Emerald Showgrounds when it becomes the stage for the Central Highlands Multicultural Festival.
The Festival will run from 5:00pm to 10:00pm on Saturday, 22 August. Entry is free but a gold coin donation to the SES is encouraged.
“The Festival is truly a feast for the senses,” Coordinator Kymberlee Senior says.
“We have a record number of food stalls this year, serving up delicious cuisine from around the world, an international beer and wine garden, and rolling entertainment from local and visiting dance troupes, instrumentalists and vocalists.”
Special guests include award-winning Celtic band the Barleyshakes and rising star Chris Tamwoy from the Torres Strait.
“We’re also excited about welcoming several unique performers who are part of the Queensland Multicultural Week’s Ethno Roadshow, including Congolese dancer Eric Kagagora and Thomas Kulich, a folk/electronic musician and multi-instrumentalist,” Ms Senior says.
“They’re bound to be a hit with the crowd and really add to the festival’s celebratory atmosphere.”
Another popular feature is the festival’s array of dishes from around the world.
“Regular guests tell us they usually try to come along with empty bellies because there’s just so much delicious food to tuck into!” Ms Senior says.
“Korean kimchi, authentic Indian and Thai curries, Tongan spit roast, Italian cannoli and Dutch pancakes are just a sample of what’s on the menu.”
Now in its 11th year, the event is the largest one-day festival in the Central Highlands and last year attracted 7,000 people.
The festival is hosted by the Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) and the Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC), with the support of major sponsor BMA as well as hundreds of local community groups and volunteers.
The event brings together communities throughout the region to celebrate its cultural diversity, and promote community awareness of multiculturalism and the benefits of living in a multicultural society.
More information can be found at chmfestival.com.au. and you can follow the Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.