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Your essential guide to the National Multicultural Festival

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It’s one of the biggest celebrations of cultural diversity in Australia, and one of the most anticipated events in Canberra’s calendar.

Get excited because the National Multicultural Festival is back for another year – and it’s on this weekend.

From what’s happening to the best way to get to and from the event, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about the National Multicultural Festival.

What is it?

Transforming the city and Glebe Park as over 170 multicultural communities come together to celebrate their heritage, the MultiCulti (as it’s lovingly known among locals) has been paying tribute to the beauty and diversity of Australia’s multicultural heritage for over 27 years.

Sharing culture, history, and heritage through food, art, song, and dance, this iconic event is perfect for the whole family, with plenty to see, do and eat.

When is it happening?

Taking place over three days, from Friday 7 until Sunday 9 February, attendees can expect a diverse line-up of music and dance performances, cultural workshops, and mouth-watering cooking demonstrations.

Starting from 5 pm on the Friday night and 10 am during Saturday and Sunday, the program is jam-packed with some amazing events and activities, from a silent disco to Italian flag throwing and tequila tasting!

Okay, hit me with it: how much does it cost to attend?

It’s all completely free! But just a heads-up, you’ll want to budget for the delicious food and drink offerings…

What’s happening?

Hold onto your hats, because it’s a lot. With a dazzling lineup of over 270 stalls and 200 performers, you’ll have plenty to choose from – including the chance to see some of Australia’s most popular musical artists live on stage, like chart-topping Gamilaraay singer and songwriter, Thelma Plum, and soul and R&B sensation, Thndo.

Some other highlights? You can catch a Bollywood film, attend a dumpling-making workshop, learn a Tongan dance, dance in a silent disco, and sample delicacies from around the world. And for those looking for family-friendly activities, there will be plenty for kids at the Family Sanctuary (found at the Canberra Museum and Gallery, from 10 am – 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday), including face painting, balloon twisting, an instrument petting zoo, and performances by members of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra.

But to make it easier for you, we’ve found some highlights from each day. Make sure to pop these in your dairy!

Friday 7 February

  • Opening Ceremony featuring the Ngunnawal Dance Academy: 5 pm on the South Glebe Park Stage.
  • Bilingual Story Time (adults): 6 pm – 7 pm at the Glebe Park Rotunda.
  • Thndo: 9.15 pm – 10.15 pm on the Akuna Street Stage.

Saturday 8 February

  • Smartraveller Parade: 4 pm, starting at the Canberra Museum and Gallery and culminating in Glebe Park.
  • Mini Nepal in Australia Showcase featuring Nepalese Popstar Asmita Adhikari: 5.30 pm – 10.30 pm at the North Glebe Park Stage.
  • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Showcase featuring Frank Yamma: 7 pm – 10.45 pm at the Civic Square Stage.

Sunday 9 February

  • Cowboys & Cowgirls from Around the World Showcase featuring Josh Setterfield: 10 am – 1 pm at the South Glebe Park Stage.
  • Azerbaijan Dance & Music Workshop lead by Azerbaijan’s State Dance & Music Ensemble: 11.15 am – 12.45pm in the Glebe Park Workshop Tent.
  • Thelma Plum: 2 pm-3 pm on the South Glebe Park Stage.
  • Multicultural cooking demonstrations at the Glebe Park Rotunda stage throughout the day.

And that’s just the beginning – check out the full program and the festival map so you can plan ahead!

To make it easier to explore different areas of the festival, be sure to take advantage of the free shuttle bus service – you can find the details here.

How can I get there?

Good news! There will be free public transport available over the festival weekend so you can travel to the event by bus or light rail for a stress-free day out.

Operating from first service on Friday until the end of service on Sunday, you’ll need to make sure you tap on and off with your MyWay+ card (if you have one), to register a $0 fee. Visit the Transport Canberra website for information about routes and timetables.

Planning on driving? Parking in the city is limited, and road closures will be in effect. The carpark on the corner of Northbourne Avenue and London Circuit (opposite Mooseheads and Bailey’s Corner) will be closed for the duration of the festival but you can find both general and accessible parking at Constitution Place, the Canberra Centre, the outdoor carpark on the corner of Cooyong Street and Genge Street and the Magistrates Court carpark.

For those looking for additional accessible parking, you can also find it at the following locations:

  • The outdoor carpark, corner of London Circuit and Constitution Avenue.
  • City Pool, Allara Street.
  • CIT, corner of Coranderrk Street and Constitution Avenue.

For those dropping passengers to the festival, you can find accessible and ride share drop off zones here:

  • The corner of Rabaul Lane and Akuna Street.
  • On Binara Street, near Crowne Plaza.
  • In Ainslie Place, on the Cooyong Street side of the Canberra Centre.

More information about how road closures affect these drop-off zones is available on the City Services website.

See you there?

THE ESSENTIALS

What: The National Multicultural Festival
When:
Friday 7 until Sunday 9 February
Where:
Various locations
Web:
multiculturalfestival.com.au

Feature image via Facebook.

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