The 2024 National Multicultural Festival is back with a packed program of song, dance and cooking demonstrations.
While you eat your way around the globe you will be entertained by performances, cultural workshops and cooking demonstrations on 8 stages located throughout the city centre and Glebe Park.
The festival will open on Friday night with the explosive Taikoz, a Sydney-based performing ensemble with taiko and percussion at its core. They will be joined in the festival opening concert by Papua New Guinean born R&B artist Ngaiire (pictured below).
Saturday afternoon sees Citizen Kay take to the Smartraveller Garema Stage in the first performance of his new concept album “so, where are we” which draws from traditional Ghanaian rhythms, Soul, Funk, Hip-Hop, and Jazz.
The ever-popular festival parade also returns on Saturday, bigger than ever with more than 50 groups participating. Along with crowd favourites like the Latin samba dancers and the Chinese lion dancers, this year look out for scotty dogs amongst the Celtic pipe bands.
Highlights on the Sunday include critically acclaimed flamenco artist Paco Lara and back after last year’s great response are cooking demonstrations of some our favourite dishes.
Other program highlights include:
- The Beez and their yodellin', thigh slappin’, lederhosen wettin' dancefest of German flavoured music
- Italian flag throwers astonishing us with their coordination and skill
- All the excitement of Punjab dance coming to us straight from India with the Sanjh International Folk Academy
- Multicultural story time and craft at Civic Library, a must for the kids and the kids-at-heart
- Traditional games and activities taught by the Hazara Multicultural Community
- Echoes from Delta: A cultural Odyssey of folk and classical performances from the Eastern Delta region of Southern Asia
- Colourful and dynamic dances shared from countries including Cambodia, Poland, Chile, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Greece and Fiji
And so much more!
With more than 170 multicultural communities sharing their culture and heritage over the weekend there is something for everyone.