Cultural celebration unites city
Thousands of people are expected to converge on the Graham Bricknell Memorial Music Shell on Saturday as the LiveLighter South West Multicultural Festival celebrates cultural diversity in the region.
A colourful mix of countries and cultures including India, China, Japan, Vietnam, Germany, Spain, Ukraine and Cambodia will be on show through an exciting range of entertainment, art, activities, performances and learning experiences.
Bunbury Multicultural Group chairwoman Saswati Pal said preparations were in full swing and the team was looking forward to another spirited event.
“There’s one more day to go so we’re all excitedly gearing up to have fun with the community,” she said.
“The weather is expected to be 30C so we invite everyone to come along for the whole day – there’s lots to see, do and eat.
“We have plenty of choice for amazing food, you can try your hand at interesting games from other countries and learn a little of another language too.”
Mrs Pal said apart from the new Experience Zone where festival-goers could participate in a hands-on interactive experience to immerse themselves in different aspects of cultures, a few surprises could also wow the crowd.
“I’m not allowed to reveal anything but I can say it’s all going to be a lot of fun so come and see what the fuss is about,” she said.
As the last Multicultural Festival under the direction of Mrs Pal and Joel McGuinness due to both relocating interstate, Mrs Pal said the event was close to her heart.
“We handcrafted these events over the years so this year is especially emotional for me as my last year but the festival will still go on for years to come with a new chairperson,” she said.
“Bunbury owns this unique culture filled with different foods, colour and languages.”
“This event is important for people in the South West – it gives them the chance to take some time out of their busy lives to focus on the beauty of our diverse community.”
The festival will run from 3pm to 9pm and will open with the popular flag parade.
People of different nationalities who would like to participate in the parade are encouraged to contact Saswati on 0439189391 to get involved.
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