Up to 8000 people expected in Queanbeyan tomorrow for Multicultural Festival
Around 8000 people are expected to converge on Queanbeyan Park tomorrow for the annual Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival.
With last year’s event cancelled due to COVID, organisers expect a bumper crowd at tomorrow’s event, enjoying dancing, food, market stalls, sporting demonstrations and activities; all provided by local community groups. Performances by the Cook Islands, Maoris, Macedonian and Chinese Lion dancers will be some of many highlights.
The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council event is back in 2022 after being postponed in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Queanbeyan has a strong South Eastern European community that will be represented on the day, with young Queanbeyan resident Radana Reljic performing as part of the Serbian dance group.
Radana, 18, is second generation Serbian and said her parents Dragan and Dragana encouraged her to be part of cultural dancing since the age of two.
“It’s been a great way to immerse myself in the Serbian culture and language and toreally feel part of the Serbian community,” Radana said.
“My mum likes that I’m in that environment where everyone speaks Serbian and is from a Serbian background.”
According to Radana, the Serbian dancers will perform in full traditional Serbian dress, with maroon woollen skirts that are made locally.
“We have two styles of dancing, one is Kolo, that is what we do at celebrations with basic three steps, it’s very cheerful and traditional and we do it at all our celebrations.
“Then there are dances we perform with multiple steps which tell a story, usually a love story.”
The festival will feature two stages for performances, interactive displays and many cultural groups for festival-goers to engage with. The day is set to be a colourful collaboration of the community and is an awesome opportunity to celebrate our culturally diverse region.
What: Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival
When: 10am-4pm, Sunday 27 February 2022
Where: Queanbeyan Park, corner of Lowe and Campbell Streets
Parking: Available at the Queanbeyan Showground, cross the road at the Lowe Street/Monaro Street traffic lights
Find out more at www.qprc.nsw.gov.au/qmcf
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About the Author: Holly Winchester
Part Jennifer Coolidge, part Jennifer Garner (gaudy and geeky), Holly idolises Dolly Parton and Princess Di and loves NRL. When she's not creating killer content, you’ll find Holly at the Maccas drive thru getting her chai latte fix or buying 1990s memorabilia for the walls of her Googong home. Specialist subject: the Woolies carpark.
