Culturefest

In the late-afternoon and early evening of Friday 10 March, Armidale staged a magnificent event - a Culturefest. 

Our town is multicultural with huge numbers of migrants from heaps of different countries globally. And to celebrate this condition, we staged a massive food-share at Curtis Park on the banks of Dumaresq Creek. Located there were maybe 15-20 food-stalls each delivering samples of traditional foods from their country of origin. Each was located in a 'tent' bearing the flag and name of the countries in question - see below. We could sample foods from many parts of Asia, Europe, parts of Africa and South America. Have you ever had a meal from Bhutan or Nigeria or Indonesia?

I mayself chose a meal from Iran, an interesting country I've visited twice and from which I have several friends. It cost me nothing and was delicious! The whole of Curtis Park was crammed with people queuing for food and consuming it. The event was hugely popular and provided an opportunity helping to integrate and welcome people from different cultural backgrounds. It was also for people across all age-groups and often wearing traditional clothing.

The location was also decked in the flags of maybe 80 or 90 different nations welcoming people from those nations.

There were places where people sit down either on the ground or on chairs and a stage where later on bands from different cultures could perform.

What other town of 25,000 people do you know of staging a similar event - and from anywhere on earth?

AS