Geelong’s beloved multicultural celebration Pako Festa to go ahead this weekend in reimagined format
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22.02.2022

Geelong’s beloved multicultural celebration Pako Festa to go ahead this weekend in reimagined format

Pako Festa Reimagined 2022 will be held at the Northern Community Hub, moving from its traditional Pakington Street location but staying true to what Pako Festa is all about.

Every year in one place, on one day, Pakington street comes 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. That’s right, we’re talking about Pako Festa – the largest free celebration of cultural diversity in Australia, deeply reflects Geelong’s uniting community spirit.

Following the year that was, the beloved festival will be looking a little different this weekend, with Diversitat, a not-for-profit association, revealing a brand-new temporary location for the festival’s 40th iteration.

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here

Building on from last year’s reimagined festival hub format, ‘Pako Festa Reimagined’ will be presented as one big event at the Diversitat Northern Community Hub on Saturday, February 26 2022.

While this means we won’t be seeing the sparkling street parade (well, not as we know it anyway), all the key elements that we love about Pako Festa’s celebration of diversity remain, with a focus on bringing people together to celebrate the dress, music, dance, language, art, food of the many cultures that call Geelong home.

A big part of Pako Festa is of course an offering of global food from a bunch of Geelong’s diverse ethnic communities. This year, from 10am to 5pm within the Northern Community Hub, 17 local community groups will represent the culture and cuisine of their homelands with lovingly prepared home-cooked food. From Spanish wines and Sangria, Wathaurong’s Bushtucker BBQ, traditional Croatian cakes, and French Madeleines, to traditional Filipino Pansit, Dutch Oliebollen (donuts), Greek-style lamb souvlaki, Bangladeshi chicken biriyani, Ukrainian dumplings, and Japanese Teriyaki Salmon Don, you’re sure to find something to savour and enjoy.

 

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A post shared by Pako Festa (@pakofesta)

And the best part of all is that you don’t even have to feel guilty about stuffing your face. Pako Festa is an annual fundraiser for our local diverse communities and your food purchases support the ongoing sustainability of these communities.

It should be noted, the communities selling global food at Pako Festa 2022 will only be able to accept cash payments.

In lieu of the street parade, which usually sees Pakington street comes alive with an abundance of colour and unique costumes in celebration of Geelong’s diverse mix of cultures with people from all walks of life, this weekend’s event will feature a large stage with a ‘traditional costume catwalk’ to allow communities to proudly show off their colourful cultures. Running from 10:20am right through to 5pm, the stage will be a sight to behold at any point in the day.

Further activities on the day include a film screening at the Healthy Living Centre, Hope Community Garden Tours and Room to grow craft stall, as well as a German Club Experience.

The indoor and outdoor event will be free to attend, but all attendees will be required to be vaccinated in compliance with government requirements.

Also, in celebration of the 40th Pako Festa, 40 portraits featuring Geelong’s diverse communities will be hung in Market Square as a free public exhibition. Three years in the making, the Elements of Culture Photographic Project pays tribute to the important contribution our local diverse communities have made to the success of Pako Festa over its 40-year history. Local photographer Chrissie Francis has captured images that reflect Geelong’s rich and diverse community, elements of culture and most importantly, a level of pride reflected in each portrait.

 

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A post shared by Pako Festa (@pakofesta)

As soon as regulations and restrictions ease, Pako Festa will return to its original location.

For more information visit pakofesta.com.au.