Community & Business
7 June, 2022
Showcase your culture
MAREEBA’S multicultural community will be celebrated with authentic food and cultural performances at the annual festival in August which will be back to a full program this year after being scaled back in 2021 due to the pandemic.
Mareeba’s Multicultural Festival seeks performers, food stallholders.
The popular Multicultural Festival was first staged in 1999 to celebrate the cultural depth of the region and promote cultural understanding and mutual respect.
The Mareeba Shire is home to people from some 64 different nationalities and cultural backgrounds, who have lived in harmony for many years before “multiculturalism” became popular, and the festival is all about highlighting this diversity and harmony.
Planning is already well under way for the 27 August event, but festival coordinator Stacey Maisel has put the call out for food stallholders and performers to ensure this year’s event is bigger and better than ever before.
The free, one-day festival features dance and music performers from around 25 different culture groups and 15 religious faiths.
Fabulous food that showcases the many different cultural cuisines is available from around a variety of stalls, so that attendees can experience authentic dishes that had their origin from around the globe.
The event is held in Arnold Park and attracts around 8000-9000 people from the region.
“The event is a very special one on the annual calendar and is unique is that so many different cultures come together to celebrate as one,” Ms Maisel said.
“No doubt the food is a big drawcard because it allows families to create special dishes that represent their culture and share them with everyone – it’s a very authentic experience for attendees and one that we cherish here in Mareeba.”
The program starts at 10am with a parade, followed by non-stop entertainment including Aboriginal, Torres Strait, PNG, Filipino, Italian, Spanish, Albanian, Greek, Polynesian and Australian performers.
“Add to that the perfect weather that Mareeba enjoys at this time of the year and it’s a day out not to be missed,” Ms Maisel said.
Anyone wishing to host a food stall, perform at the event or who needs information should contact Ms Maisel now by emailing to mareebamulticulturalfestival@gmail.com
