The beloved celebration will return to its traditional Pakington Street location in February 2023.
Pakington street will once again come alive with an abundance of colour, unique costumes, live music, street performers, multicultural food, and traditional dancing in celebration of Geelong’s diverse mix of cultures with people from all walks of life with Pako Festa 2023, finally returning home where it belongs.
The past two years have seen the annual festival reimagined due to the ongoing effects of Covid-19, regulations and restrictions, with the 2021 event taking place in a festival hub format and last year’s festival moving entirely to the Diversitat Northern Community Hub.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Thankfully, it’s time to bring Pako Festa back home, returning to the streets on Saturday, February 25 2023!
According to Cultura CEO, Joy Leggo, Cultura ( the new face of Diversitat and MACS) is thrilled to be bringing the 2023 Pako Festa back home to Pakington Street.
“That’s right, we are bringing Pako Festa back to Pako! The team, led by Luisa LaFornara, are currently planning the 2023 event to be staged on Saturday 25th February along Pakington Street, between Gordon Ave and Waterloo Street,” Ms Leggo said.
“The theme for 2023 will be ‘Sharing and Connecting Cultures: the Reunion’. This is about human reconnection, not only within the diverse communities but with the broader Geelong community as well.”
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Pako Festa was established in 1983 and has been one of the highlights on the Geelong Events Calendar for over 40 years.
“This successful event attracts crowds of over 100,000 people and fulfils its purpose, which is to celebrate local diversity. The event brings diverse community groups together and offers a safe environment in which to share their culture with the broader community while fostering a spectacular cultural experience full of music, colour, food, costumes, dance and movement,” Ms Leggo said.
An outdoor spectacular like no other, the original Pako Festa sees the iconic street blocked off to traffic all day, with an enormous street parade starting at 11am, featuring around 80 floats representing Geelong’s diverse cultural mix. After the parade, the street becomes a huge alfresco dining strip with a myriad of traditional international foods on offer. The local West Park is dotted with food vans and marquees serving home-made food from local community groups and local retailers and cafes are also open, along with numerous pop-up market stalls, adding to the festive carnival atmosphere.
Cultura – the vibrant new organisation that has emerged from the merger of Diversitat and Multicultural Aged Care Services (MACS) will deliver the 2023 event. Cultura combines over 70 years of knowledge and experience from Diversitat and MACS – which have historically been two of the Geelong region’s largest and longest serving multicultural organisations.
“We have an ambitious intent to connect, inspire and embrace culturally diverse individuals throughout their entire life journey, and after 70 years, I think we’re just getting started,” Ms Leggo added.
Looking to get involved in Pako Festa 2023? Head here.
