More than 12,000 people took over cosmopolitan Pakington Street for the first Pako Festa. The street was closed to traffic for the afternoon to allow the city's mix of cultures to parade through Geelong West.

A highlight of the day was a parade of nations. Nineteen communities took part in the march, including representatives of Croatia, Holland, the Philippines, Greece, Italy, Spain, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, Wales and the Ukraine. Many of these ethnic groups also put on dance performances, while another highlight outside the Geelong West Town Hall was a demonstration of Swiss hornblowing.

Much of the inaugural event was a family affair, with many creative activities such as the best-dressed, wheelbarrow and bike competitions. Suburban strength was put to the test in a tug of war, while food was high on the agenda for much of the day but especially during a pizza­eating competition.

Among the highlights for the inaugural festa, the future mayor of Geelong, Stretch Kontelj, made his first steps toward public life. The then-21-year-old Monash University law student from Bell Post Hill took out first prize in a beer-drinking contest. The contest involved skolling a 740ml can of beer, eating two Salada crackers and blowing up a balloon until it burst. The unofficial time in the final was 55 seconds. Stretch's achievement was no mean feat - he had to compete in three heats before making the final.

Another future mayor, Frank DeStefano, was Geelong Ethnic Communities Council president when the organisation established the festa with Geelong West City Council and Geelong West Traders Association.

It might have been only the second year of the Pako Festa however more than 20,000 people enjoyed the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the multicultural street event in Geelong West.

More than 19 communities took part in the annual parade along Pakington Street, donning traditional costumes for the appreciative crowd. People from the Filipino, Polish, Spanish, Greek, Serbian and Macedonian communities were among the nationalities who took part in the event.

Visitors were entertained by a number of dance and music performances including the Beggar's Bush Group, Slovenian Choir, Mandolin Orchestra and Greek Dance Group. There was no shortage of things to do and see, with kung fu demonstrations, wine tasting, an arts and craft exhibition and a wheelbarrow race. For the more adventurous, a pizza-eating competition was held along with beer-drinking and spaghetti eating events. A chess tournament was held at Geelong West Community Centre where both juniors and seniors also battled it out in the tug of war competitions. It was on for young and old during the waiters and waitresses races as participants fought for the first prize.

The event, organised by Geelong Ethnic Communities Council and Geelong West City Council, was sponsored by a number of local businesses, the Arts Council, Ethnic Affairs Commission, Ministry of Employment and Geelong West Traders' Association.

Latvian food and medieval sport were hallmarks of Pako Festa this year. The Latvian community took part in its first Pako Festa following an invitation from organisers. A crowd of more than 25,000 gathered in Pakington Street for the third festival, more than double the attendance of the first event in 1983. Organisers hailed the event a huge success, despite inclement February weather.

Representatives of the Latvian community took part in various activities for the first time and were joined by dozens of people from various cultures all over the world. Latvian dance group, Pastalnieki, entertained visitors while members of the Latvian community also joined in the afternoon parade.

Ethnic dancing, street musicians, joy rides, food stalls and a trash-and-treasure hunt were just a few of the activities and events on offer. Representatives from countries including Spain, Serbia, Vietnam, Greece and Croatia all showed off the unique aspects of their cultures during the procession along Pakington Street.

For patrons with large appetites, a pizza-eating competition and a spaghetti-eating contest took place along with the annual and highly popular beer-drinking event. Twelve competitors had to wolf down a large bowl of spaghetti and sauce without utensils, while 10 pizza lovers had to shovel in a hot and spicy pizza each in the fastest time. The winner was treated to one medium-sized pizza per week for 1O weeks for their effort.

The more adventurous took part in a jousting competition in which competitors were required to ride a bike dressed in a costume and carrying a jousting stick to use for collecting a ring from a stand. Missing a ring resulted in contestants being "blessed" with the contents of a bucket. Organisers hailed Pako Festa a boon to tourism in Geelong, with many out-of-town visitors descending on Pakington Street.

New community groups taking part in Pako Festa made for an outstanding event aided by Sir Hubert Opperman who opened the festival. Hundreds of brightly coloured balloons filled the sky as the former Immigration Minister, Olympic cyclist and Corio MP and his wife officially declared the fourth annual festa open for all to enjoy.

During the official ceremony, Sir Hubert told young people to appreciate their parents and grandparents who, over two decades, had known poverty and hardship yet had carved out new lives in a new country. His message to the older generation was to get involved in Australian politics and to forget the politics of their respective homelands. Sir Hubert and Lady Opperman also headed the parade in a red MG sports car, followed by an array of brightly clad representatives from nations including Poland, Italy and newcomer Austria. Although the parade was reportedly short, it was described as extremely colourful.

The Austrian Band played to audiences for the first time since the festival's inception, while dancers from nations including Poland, Scotland, Serbia and Greece took to the stage outside Geelong West Town Hall and kicked up their heels to their respective national songs.

Organisers estimated the crowd to be bigger than in 1985, with 26,000 visitors succumbing to the intoxicating atmosphere, not to mention the temptation of exotic food and wacky competitions. Parents watched as their children took part in a children's eating competition in which they were required to eat an ice cream, down a can of drink, then blow up a balloon till it burst. Let's hope they didn't fill up on gelati and spicy shashliks before taking part!

Brollies were a must for Pako Festa patrons as the heavens opened, putting a damper on the popular annual parade. While organisers said attendance was down to about 15,000 because of the rain, they still called the festa a success.

Then-president of Geelong Ethnic Communities Council, Frank De Stefano, said stall holders and ethnic groups had the option of pulling out but decided to push on despite the inclement weather.

The annual pizza and spaghetti-eating competitions still went ahead, with Lara's John Mirabile taking out his third successive pizza-eating title before going on to claim second prize in the spaghetti event.

The weather was perfect for Bilton's Academy of Irish Dancing, which entertained visitors with typical Irish gusto.

The Irish community's involvement in Pako Festa goes back to 1983, when the event kicked-off, according to Geelong Irish Society former president Joe Pearl. Joe, who was president of the group for around 30 years before becoming a committee member, said members not only took part in the traditional parade, they had a food stall along with dancing exhibitions.

Irish soda bread, cakes and scones were just some of the tempting treats on offer. "We used to have a great show years ago when our numbers averaged around 400. We always had a great float and a great turnout," Joe said. "But over the years our numbers have dwindled, people pass on and get older and it gets harder to get new members." Joe, who has lived in Geelong since 1962, said the Irish community's commitment to Pako Festa was still as strong as it had always been.

It might have been Australia's Bicentenary however this year was also the year Pako Festa drew a record crowd. More than 30,000 visitors strolled down Pakington Street in fine weather and watched as more than 20 ethnic groups in national costume took to the streets for the traditional procession.

For one of those participating groups, the Polish community, it was the sixth time the group had taken part in the festival. Polish Community Association in Geelong board member Frank Filipowicz said being involved in the festival was "extremely important" to the city's Polish people. "About 100 members of our group take part every year through dance, song and food and, of course, the procession," he said. "In the 1980s the festa was very locally based, with many cultural acts from Geelong, whereas today it is a bit more commercial with acts from overseas but it's still the best event in Geelong. I guess it's just a sign of the times. Where else can you see all the cultures of the world in one place? That's what makes Pako Festa so important to Geelong."

Mr Filipowicz, who has been a member of the Polish association for decades, said the festa grew "bigger and better" with each passing year. "We love to share our culture with others and it is important for the younger generation to know where they come from and their ancestors' customs and cultures." At the event, the then Minister for Sport and Recreation, Ian Trezise, praised organisers and the continued support of the Geelong community. He said no street in Geelong was more progressive over the years than vibrant Pakington Street. Mr Filipowicz agreed, "Pakington Street is such a fantastic venue for the festa and we are very proud to be involved in such a multicultural event."

Geelong's Pako Festa not only showcases the region's diverse cultures, it provides an opportunity for people to understand and learn about the unique mix of cultures in the community. Since the festival's inception in 1983, dozens of community groups have used the event to show-off their heritage and invite visitors to sample their culture.

Whether it's through the use of dance, song or food, the nations of the world have banded together to put on a festival that rivals no other. Members of the Maori community have donned their national dress to teach visitors the ways of Maori culture for more than 15 years. Festa participants have dressed in national costume and shared their culinary customs and national songs and dance to the delight of audiences.

The German Karneval Society has been offering festa goers mouth-watering sauerkraut, bratwurst and schnitzel, not to mention homemade cakes, for years. Colourful costumes and entertaining dancers have captivated audiences and led them on a journey into Germany's diverse and rich history and traditions. The society, which today has more than 200 members, has been operating in Geelong for 51 years.

The Greek community is also among dozens of long-term participants of the hugely popular event. More than 3500 people from all parts of Greece, Crete and Cyprus call Geelong home and have done so since the immigration boom of the early 1950s. Community members, dressed in traditional attire, have paraded along Pakington Street in the annual procession for many years. Bauzouki players have wowed crowds, as has the highly talented Greek dance group. The association has also shared many of its nation's dishes including souvlaki, olives, fetta cheese and Greek cakes.

More than 30 countries have been represented at the festival over the years, offering visitors a brief but enjoyable trip around the globe.

Everyone who was anyone went along to Pako Festa, setting an attendance record. The sun shone as more than 40,000 men, women and children turned out to celebrate Geelong's multicultural heritage. It was a party that lasted all day and, for some, into the night.

People queued for their favourite foods up and down the street and there was no shortage of enticing foreign culinary delights to sample. The Vietnamese association tempted visitors' tastebuds for the first time with a food stall offering traditional fare. There was no shortage of customers willing to try something new.

Groups from the Persian and Czechoslovakian communities took part in the gala event for the first time along with long-time participants from the Ukrainian community. Ukrainian community spokesperson Linda Sydor Petkovic said more than 100 members of the community took part in Pako Festa every year. "We have always taken part in the parade and have used different themes each year including historical and cultural themes for our float," Ms Sydor Petkovic said. The Ukrainian community has also had food stalls, dancing exhibitions and arts and crafts displays. "Pako Festa is extremely important for Geelong," Ms Sydor Petkovic said. "It embraces the cultural diversity of the community in a way no other event does."

Belly dancers, Dutch clog dancers, clowns, Swiss horn blowers and a yodel choir entertained patrons, while a Chinese exhibition and a display of Koorie artefacts at Geelong West Town Hall proved a popular new addition to festa.

An outdoor concert and dance festival in West Park featured a range of performers including the vibrant Cook Islanders and newcomers to the festival, the Safika South Africa band and the local Persian-Iranian dance group.

"Geelong's multicultural extravaganza was equal if not bigger than Melbourne's Lygon Street Festival and should be used as a major tourist attraction," the then Victorian Premier Joan Kirner declared. Mrs Kirner praised Pako Festa organisers as she opened the festival to the delight of more than 35,000 visitors. It was a day centred on more than 30 of Geelong's ethnic communities who chose to share their diverse backgrounds with the wider population.

One of those community groups, Australian Slovenian Cultural and Sports Association, has taken part in the event since 1983. Association president, Joe Ramuta, said about 20 members of the community had always been a part of the inaugural event in various capacities. "Over the years we have taken part in the parade and other events at the Pako Festa," he said. "It's very important because Geelong is made up of many nationalities and it's an important event because it breaks down barriers. People learn about other cultures and the Slovenian community has more than 200 members on its books, so we are a big community in Geelong." Over the years, the association has tempted punters with Kransky sausages, apple and cheese strudel, traditional cakes and biscuits, not to mention the ever-popular donuts, at its food stall.

Other highlights of Pako Festa included a Fijian choir, Indian classical dancing, a snake charmer, Broccoli Italian Puppet Theatre and Life Be in it Games along with 25 different ethnic food stalls.

A balmy temperature of 31 degrees helped attract thousands of patrons to the vibrant Pakington Street's shopping district to enjoy a jam packed day of entertainment at Pako Festa.

The big star of the event was undoubtedly "Con the Fruiterer", alias actor and comedian Mark Mitchell, who joined the annual Pako Festa procession on the Costa Fruit and Vegie truck. To the amusement of crowds, Con the comedian threw produce to his adoring fans. In between cries of "have-an-a-banana, have-an-a-apple", Con was cheered to the stage as master of ceremonies. Con told the audience the procession was alive and well because no one threw any fruit back at him.

Food was certainly one thing in plentiful supply. Culinary treats from all corners of the globe were on sale from the 46 stalls and 120 shops in Pakington Street. The procession included a Scottish Pipe Band, the Geelong Austrian Group, a local Russian group, a Chinese ensemble and people representing Ireland, Italy, Persia and the United States.

But without a doubt the highlight of the procession was the Vostok Youth Group, which built three giant Russian folk dolls, known as the Matroshki sisters. The group wheeled the folk dolls along Pakington Street to the delight of onlookers. The dolls, one more than three metres high, were made in the Russian Orthodox Church hall at Bell Park. Youth club president, George Jigalin, said about a dozen teenagers had worked on the dolls day and night between playing volleyball for the local Russian team, Vostok. According to legend, the dolls represent a group of identical sisters who lived in the forest regions of early north-western Russia. The legend describes the sisters as beautiful except for a difference in height. The youth club had secured a $2000 Victorian Government grant to create the masterpieces.

Television star Effie and Comanche Indian Lightning Bear were both highlights of Pako Festa. While the two might have been worlds apart, both added an extra touch of cultural diversity to Victoria's foremost multicultural festival.

Representing the festa's theme, Effie, played by Australian comedian and actor, Mary Coustas, was warmly received by the crowds and added her own unique brand of humour to the event.

More than 60 floats took part in the colourful parade, including an entry from Dutch entertainment club The Swallows Karnival. Spokesperson Gerda Nevan said the club had been involved in the annual procession since 1983. "We've had a float in the parade since it began because it's important to let the public know who we are and what our culture is all about.
We have about 20 members who take part in the parade every year." Ms Nevan said.

Lightening Bear, a qualified medical doctor who, after fighting in Vietnam, started performing stunts in films including Star Wars and Black Rain, spoke to the 40,000 strong crowd about Indian culture and the prospect of nuclear extinction.

Meanwhile, Maori Cultural Group, Sol De Portugal, Bay City Clog Dancers and Macedonian Youth Group were among a host of groups that took to the stage for an International Concert in the Park.

Geelong West traders enjoyed a high turnover on the day and some stalls, set up by ethnic groups, sold out halfway through the day.

The then Geelong West Mayor, Virginia Todd, said "The suburb had a history of providing a focus for migrants. Cultural diversity was the ingredient that made Pako Festa such a special event."

Along with the traditional parade, food stalls and dancing, a Tai Chi demonstration featured in West Park, while the town hall played host to a fashion parade.

Despite a heavy downpour of rain cancelling the first ever evening entertainment program, Pako Festa was hailed the most exciting and funfilled event yet. Planned musical entertainment in West Park from 7.30pm had to be cancelled as the heavens opened but the carnival atmosphere kicked on.

Festa committee chairman, George Ballas, said organisers decided to extend entertainment into the evening because this year was the Year of the Family. Festa icon, Carmen Miranda, also made her debut on event promotions material.

As usual, dozens of nations were represented along the cosmopolitan shopping strip, including Aboriginal dancer Murrundindi who delighted crowds with a kangaroo dance. To the delight of audiences, Murrundindi then invited members of the public on stage to perform the dance as well. Children were treated to camel and horse and cart rides, while older patrons experienced the thrill of riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Guest artists, The Music Men, performed for the 45,000-strong crowd before several dance groups strutted their moves. Cries of 'Hear ye, hear ye' echoed throughout Geelong West as 11 town criers from across Australia took part in a Victorian Town Criers' Championships during the festival. Competitors had to give 75-to-100 word cries, with many focusing on entrants' towns or cities. Visitors were also treated to skateboard exhibitions, street art, youth bands and astroball.

The tantalising aroma of exotic food filled the air, as dozens of ethnic community groups put on a spread to rival any festival.

The other major change this year was the support and resources provided by the new City of Greater Geelong. With municipal amalgamation, the former City of Geelong West ceased being a partner in the festa organisation.

Scorching 40-degree heat failed to stop the Bosnian community from taking part in its first Pako Festa.

The 13th annual event over two-days attracted more than 30 ethnic groups, thousands of people from across Victoria and a host of pigeons. Twenty birds were released in West Park by Chief Lightening Bear to mark the start of the multicultural event, while comedian, Mark Mitchell, playing grocery goddess, Marika, dressed as Carmen Miranda, officially opened the street carnival.

Murrundindi, of the Yarra Yarra tribe, brought good energy and good spirit to the festival before demonstrating the kangaroo and goanna dances. Children were treated to face painting, camel and pony rides, air castles and a Story Book production of Pinnochio while their parents sampled a smorgasbord of food, entertainment and arts and crafts.

All kinds of animals delighted the little folk at a Children's Farm, while there was a lot of monkeying about at a Scouts' Corner.

For the first time at the festa, the party carried over to the following Sunday when Geelong West Traders' association took over with Pako Alfresco. The then association president, Margrette Lewis, said it was a new adventure for the event and its organisers. "Alfresco means eating outside, enjoying and relaxing," she said at the time.

Special guests on the Saturday included The Music Men, Often Bark, Public Circus and the Hunting Party, the Great Giszmo, Chicken, Bone and Schnitzel, as well as Akin, the zany Zoulo Loupa and the extremely Highly Strung tightrope walkers.

An art and craft expo in the town hall also proved a popular attraction.

The festa wound up on the Saturday with an open-air rock concert in West Park featuring bands including Hurricane Kenna, Plenty and Angel Pavement. The entertainment continued on Sunday with the Pako's first Battle of the Youth Bands.

The richness and diversity of local cultures is nowhere as apparent than at the annual Pako Festa and this year was no exception, with an explosion of cultural celebrations and unrivalled entertainment over two days. Even our furry friends were not left out, with an animal expo on the second day of the festa featuring a day of pampering for canine companions.

Cooking celebrity Peter Russell-Clarke officially kicked-off proceedings after opening Geelong Art Society's exhibition at Geelong West Town Hall on the Friday night. The annual art show continued over the weekend and attracted large crowds.
Melbourne artist Carl Anderson judged the event.

Heading the procession was Pako character Carmen Miranda, who proved a popular hit with young and old alike.
Thirty ethnic communities, 10 community service providers and associations, schools and a host of local corporate donors and sponsors jumped on board the Pako Festa band wagon. Behind each one-day carnival is months of preparation and hard work.

Hundreds of unseen but crucial volunteers from arts, culture and sport organisations put considerable effort and commitment into the presentation of their organisation and cultural heritage. The festa provides a reason to get together on a community level to discuss floats, decorations, food stall menus, costumes, dance and choir events. The work that goes into each aspect of the festa is tremendous and the event has remained free to visitors. The festa also featured Russian Dance Group performing along with newcomer Fijian Community of Geelong Dance Group. West Park also featured a second Battle of the Youth Bands with Joe Serra.

The Pako Festa chairman, George Ballas, criticised the enemies of multiculturalism in his opening speech.
He said Pako Festa was proof multiculturalism worked, as the event had gone from strength to strength over the previous 15 years. "Multiculturalism is not a product or a service, it reflects our background and composition as a nation," Mr Ballas said. Up to 50,000 people cheered the speech before going on to enjoy a host of activities and cultural events, not to mention the traditional array of ethnic food.

Entertainer, George Kapiniaris, best known from the hit show Acropolis Now, treated the crowd to his unique brand of humour. Aboriginal performance group One Fire also entertained during the opening ceremony.

The hour-long parade broke down borders and brought together Geelong's diverse ethnic communities. A Viking re-enactment group proved a huge hit with the crowd, as did a Pacific Islanders' float which was crowned winner in the traditional parade. Carmen Miranda, brought to life by performer, Ian Pidd, strutted her stuff as carnival queen complete with the requisite fruit bowl on her head.

West Park played host to a number of entertainers on the first day of the event, with Western Heights Secondary College Band, Julie-Anne's Dance Avenue and Soma Kai wowing audiences.

An exhibition featuring artworks by local artists was spread between various positions in Pakington Street as part of a, Through the Keyhole, exhibition which ran for two days.

From Fiji, Serbia, Ireland, Germany, the Cook Islands and Scotland, more than 25 nations were represented at the weekend event, hailed as one of the best in Victoria.

Chinese exhibits and demonstrations were a key feature of Pako Festa.

A special exhibition of more than 50 traditional costumes worn by ethnic minorities in China was a key feature of the event. The exhibition, called A Mosaic of People and usually housed in Canberra, was loaned to festa organisers for the first time.

Chinese Lion dancers also performed at the official launch of the festival on the Saturday in front of the Chinese Consul-General in Victoria, Mr Liang, who was a special guest. Three Chinese craft masters held demonstrations of kite making and paper cutting, while West Park was transformed into a multicultural chill-out zone as families soaked up the international colours and flavours of the festival.

The Wathaurong dancers moved to the sound of traditional Koori music, followed by dancers from Ukraine, Bosnia, Hungaria and Ireland. The colourful procession attracted a record 70 entries. The award for best entry was split between Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative and the Indonesian community.

A Punch and Judy show captivated youngsters while their parents munched on curries, cakes and kebabs from the dozens of food stalls. Roving performers moved up and down Pakington Street dazzling crowds, while escape artist, Clare Casey, performed before an awe-inspired audience.

Pako Physio Mile Foot Race was once again a popular event at the festa, as was an Active for Life History Walk. Pako Festa Bush Dance went down a treat at the Geelong West Town Hall on the Saturday night, with dancers toe tapping well into the evening.

The ever-popular pizza eating competition was held on Alfresco Sunday at Amandos restaurant, while others chose to relax and enjoy poetry-reading competitions.

Revellers at Pako Festa had a wild weekend of fun, music and riotous entertainment. The huge festival, with a grand parade, music and dance acts, food stalls and colourful characters, had built a reputation for attracting crowds of more than 40,000 to Geelong West each year and this year was no exception.

The festivities began on the Friday night with a Pako Festa Ball at Club Italia and the launch of a fringe arts festival, Through the Keyhole, at Ashby Primary School.

The annual Pako Physio Mile footrace, one of the state's richest street miles, attracted top athletes from all over Victoria. However, the showstopper annual procession was undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend. Led by festa icon Carmen Miranda and African Royal Drummers, the event was crammed with colourful floats, ethnic and cultural groups, dancers, local schools and bands. The event also featured a blue kangaroo called Hugh the Blue and a giant cockatoo named Rocky.

Schools also competed for a best-decorated float honour.

The oldest member of Geelong Ethnic Communities Council, Donald Findlay, and his wife Ruby were honoured at the event and were driven along Pakington Street in a classic MG. Donald has carried the flag for the Scottish entry in the parade since the festival began in 1983.

Children had their faces painted and discovered the art of belly dancing, while grown-ups were invited to join in and dance with Latin American band, Furia.

Dolls and Teddy bears of all shapes and sizes featured in the Doll and Teddy Bear Show at Geelong West Town Hall over the weekend, proving a huge hit with both adults and children alike.

For the first time in the Pako Festa's history, visitors to the event were able to sample offerings of emu, crocodile and kangaroo prepared by Geelong's Wathaurong community. Food has always been an integral part of the event, with a smorgasbord of ethnic cuisine tempting all who wander through the diverse range of food stalls and there was no escape from the delectable aromas wafting along Pakington Street.

For the Thai community, this was the first year to play a part in the festa. Traditional Thai food was on offer and members of the community also performed traditional dances from their homeland.

In previous years the food stalls had been located near the town hall however organisers decided to spread them out along the street to extend the sensory experience. The inclusion of both Thai and traditional Koori food was a hit with visitors.

It wasn't only new cultures joining in the weekend of festivities - organisers also added a film element to the program. Five short multicultural films were shown on the hour at Geelong West Town Hall. There were also more musical acts than ever, including styles other than the traditional ethnic and folk forms. Newcomer, Gorani, a seven-piece male acapella group, performed Bulgarian and Georgian songs while a lounge blues band also entertained.

Mardi Janetzki took over the artistic direction of the event, sending the festa into new directions. "No matter where you are all your senses will be touched," she said at the time. "You'll be able to see beautiful things, you'll be able to hear great music and smell fantastic food." The thousands of local and interstate visitors would, without a doubt, have agreed with her sentiments.

No matter where you come from, what language you speak, or what your socio-economical background is, you
are an integral part of the community. That was the message of Pako Festa this year.

Geelong Ethnic Communities Council chief executive officer, Jordan Mavros, said that the festa would continue to aim toward developing a collective appreciation of the cultural diversity of Geelong. With around 75,000 visitors and eighty floats in the annual Saturday parade, his words rang true. "The Festa is about bringing all the human resources in the region - the community groups, the cultural groups, the business sector, the media, the schools - to show the community the human assets we have in the region," Mr Mavros said. "We are encouraged by the fact that the most recently arrived ethnics are willing to be involved in the festa. "We have groups like the Bosnians and the Fijians, groups that are essentially small in number but are saying 'we are part of this community, we want to be accepted and we want to contribute'."

The then Victorian Treasurer, John Brumby, officially opened the two-day event but the format of the opening changed slightly after Town Crier, Andrew Shears, arrived with a sore throat and had to delegate to his seven-year old son, Thomas.

Young Thomas proved as good as his dad, though, with a voice almost as loud.

Crowds lined Pakington Street six deep for the colourful and extravagant parade, won by the Chinese association.

The highlight of Pako Alfresco on the Sunday was again a Youth Battle of the Bands, which featured 11 local acts including Against One, Poor Excuse, Fetch, Fox Vandal and Fare Warning.

Pako Festa is renowned for its diverse range of entertainment and this year was no exception, with the merry men from Bizircus wowing crowds with their wacky acts. Western Australia's premier circus theatre company also staged free workshops offering people of all ages the chance to learn how to juggle, walk on stilts and twirl plates.

The weekend street carnival was officially launched in conjunction with the national launch of Harmony Day, an initiative of the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

For the first time in the event's 20-year history, Pakington Street was closed to traffic on the Sunday as well as the Saturday, testament to the carnival's enormous popularity.

In another first, festa bosses were forced to sell programs for $1 each following a huge rise in running costs.

An exhibition of 300 works by some of Australia's best known artists, entitled 'We are Australian', was officially opened at the festa to the delight of art lovers and continued for six days. However, the celebration of Geelong's diverse cultures didn't end there. Around 35 ethnic communities took to the street to celebrate Community Enhancing Harmony. Members of the Italian, French, Greek, German, Filipino and Irish communities were just a few of the groups offering tastes of their unique culture to festa patrons.

Everyone was catered for at Pako Festa.

Activities for youth were held at the Youth Shed, part of the Kinnears Ropeworks site, and included all-day skateboarding, demonstrations, DJs and indoor sports.

A car park between Yuille and Hope Streets was transformed, to the delight of adults, into Pako Piazza where visitors relaxed to world music and dance while enjoying wines and ales from a fully-licensed outdoor bar.

Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, was among a host of dignitaries and celebrities to take part in the Pako Festa's 21st birthday bash.

For the first time Home and Away stars, Ada Nicodemou and Danny Racos, and the Big Arvo team took to the street during the annual parade before signing autographs for a host of adoring fans.

One brave person even tried to steal a kiss on the lips from Mr Bracks, who later joined in a happy birthday song before officially cutting a ribbon to open the festival. He told the crowd Victoria was the most successful multicultural state in Australia.

The festa, which has been helping Geelong's multicultural populations expose their heritages since 1983, celebrated its 21st birthday in style. Ethnic groups, schools, religious and volunteer groups all took part in the two-day event, which attracted around 100,000.

The popular spaghetti-eating competition had a rival, with the Great Chilli Cook-off. Teams of two to four people cooked up their best chilli con came over three hours. A panel of experts and celebrities then judged the competition according to taste, aroma, appearance and consistency.

Old favourites returned to the festa in celebration of its 21st birthday. The perennially popular African Royal Drummers returned to entertain crowds, while the Russian Matryoshki dolls were restored to their original glory to once again take part in the parade.

There were also graffiti workshops, young women's workshops and a youth access program to keep people entertained. Sing Australia Choir made its debut, along with a number of other music groups.

Organisers hailed the week-long birthday party a huge success.

The third weekend in February each year is always reserved for a day of fun, frivolity and indulgence of ethnic cuisine.
The MatchWorks Pako Festa was no exception, with tens of thousands of people descending on Geelong West to take part in the annual one-day street carnival. It was the first time MatchWorks became naming rights sponsor of the event.

Visitors were kept occupied with performances from acts including Los Locos, Sudanese Dance Group, Zarafa Gypsy Fusion, Skippereen Irish Band and the Serbian Youth Club.

For dozens of multicultural artists and dance groups, the festival provides an opportunity to perform and generate interest in what they do.

Scottish dancers have been involved in the dance shows and the annual parade since the first festa in 1983, as have many other groups in Geelong.

A huge line-up of Channel 7 television stars dropped by to lend their support to the event. Kip Gamblin, John Wood, Simone McAullay and Ben Hewett all took part in the grand parade before signing autographs outside the town hall. However, the real stars of the event were the more than 35 ethnic groups who make the Pako Festa such a success.

Traditional dancers and members of the Wathaurong community led the grand parade. Children dressed in traditional costume and held papiermache dreamtime figures as they walked along Pakington Street. Following the grand parade, a fashion parade was held showcasing collections from local fashion outlets and ethnic groups and the work of emerging fashion designers from Gordon Institute of TAFE.

As usual, a host of traditional food was on offer and there was no shortage of people willing to sample something new.

Popular soapie star, Kate Ritchie, visited MatchWorks Pako Festa for the first time, delighting Home and Away fans.
Kate, one of only two original Home and Away actors, left the sunny shores of Sydney to take part in the annual parade and sign autographs. She was one of many Channel 7 stars, including Blue Heelers', Danny Raco, to visit Geelong for the annual multicultural event in Pakington Street.

For the first time in the event's history, Indian and Sudanese community groups participated in the parade. Around 35 other ethnic groups from around the world joined them.

Six performance stages lined the street alongside everything from skateboarding demonstrations and a fashion parade to food stalls. Roving artists weaved their way through the crowd, entertaining people during the one-day festival with their unique acts.

Family activities inside the town hall kept everyone amused, while youngsters were busy writing songs for a Youth Song Writing Competition. Younger children took part in face painting and art workshops with recycled materials.

The MatchWorks Pako Festa was ranked the best yet by organising body Diversitat. Diversitat's, Michael Martinez, said traders reaped a financial bonanza while stallholders sold out of products and the festa itself stayed in the black.

This year was also the first time the Independent had acted as a major sponsor, using its circulation of more than 90,000 papers a week to provide coverage in the lead-up to the event. Editor, Tony Galpin, praised the festa. "Pako Festa is the region's biggest one-day event and the nation's greatest celebration of the many cultures that have shaped modern Australia," he said. "In fact, the size of the crowd rivals the biggest sporting and cultural events in Australia.
"Everyone associated with Pako Festa, from the performers to the patrons, deserves congratulation for helping make It is such an outstanding success."

Inclement weather could not keep the crowds away. Police estimated around 100,000 people turned up to take part in the event but Mr Martinez said it was "probably even bigger". "We had more at the northern end of Pakington Street than we did last year, there was a new stage off the street that was full all day and there were still large numbers of people in the street at 5pm," he said.

The festa included all the usual ingredients that make up the annual multicultural event, including wacky entertainment, great food, music and dance acts.

Mauritian, Tongan and Indonesian communities joined the parade for the first time.

A message from the Premier:

I am pleased to send my warmest regards to everyone attending Pako Festa.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Pako Festa has become a fixture of Geelong's cultural calendar. The festa provides a magnificent example of a community celebrating its diversity through involvement and participation sharing its music, dance, food, costumes and art.

This year's theme, Reflections of Culture, is especially pertinent. While you enjoy the entertainment from the music stages, workshops, art exhibitions, multicultural craft displays and, of course, the Pako Parade, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the enormous contribution that successive waves of migrants have made to Geelong's and Victoria's cultural, social, political and economic life.

The Victorian Government believes that social engagement between our culturally diverse communities is an essential foundation of a strong, cohesive and harmonious community. We encourage all Victorians to maintain, develop and share their cultural heritage, and the Pako Festa is one of the best examples of a community coming together to do just that.

On behalf of the Victorian Government, I would like to congratulate Diversitat, the Pako Festa organisers, whose hard work and dedication has not only delivered many a spectacular Pako Festa but whose contribution to community relations in the greater Geelong area cannot be overstated.

To everyone attending and participating in Pako Festa, I hope you enjoy an exciting and enlightening day.

Hon Steve Bracks MP
Premier of Victoria

Once a year, on the last weekend in February, Geelong hosts one of the biggest and most impressive multicultural festivals in Australia. With a sensational line-up of performers, a smorgasbord of new foods, an even bigger parade and a later closing time. Pako Festa was one of the best festas ever, this year.

Staged on 23rd February, Pako Festa celebrated its 26th anniversary with a full day of fantastic fun, music, dance and food. The event organizers, Diversitat and MatchWorks (our naming rights partner) thanked all the people who joined them for this colourful celebration of our cultural diversity.

Since 1983, Pako Festa has provided an opportunity for people from all cultural backgrounds to come together and celebrate the beauty and enriching capacity of multiculturalism. Staged as a free event, it currently attracts the participation of around 30 cultural community groups, up to 60 community groups and a total attendance of around 100,000 people.

This year, MatchWorks Pako Festa presented back-to-back performances over 5 world stages, a dedicated Freeza Youth Stage, a venue for choirs and community singers in the Bethel Church, a smorgasbord of cultural food, workshops, art and craft exhibitions, a host of roving street performers and a range of free activities for children. With more than 70 performances over eight hours, this was the busiest Pako Festa ever. The highlight of the day was the Pako Parade comprising a colourful stream of cultural and community floats, groups, entertainers and brass bands that flowed through the 1 kilometre festival precinct.

MatchWorks Pako Festa theme this year, “Icons of Culture”, invited both participants and spectators to consider the significance and importance of the special symbols of their cultural heritage. To some, an icon of culture was as simple as a traditional costume, song or dance - to others it was a place, object, food, art, person, even a geographical feature or region. Some icons were shared, others were personal. Some icons were religious, others were cultural. The quality that all icons of culture had in common, however, was that they enhanced our appreciation of our unique place in a diverse world.

Enjoy, celebrate, share and learn.

MatchWorks Pako Festa, celebrated on Saturday, 28th February, saw unprecedented numbers flocking to enjoy the multicultural celebration. Police estimated attendance was up around 10% from last year and, over the course of the day, about 110,000 people came to see Pako Festa.

Event manager Luisa La Fornara said, “There is no doubt that this was our biggest Pako Festa ever, and one of the best things about the day was, despite the crowds, there were no major incidents. It was a day when Geelong celebrated in true harmony. Thanks to all and Viva la Pako Festa!”

Around 150 people marched from MatchWorks. There were over 100 from the Geelong Chinese Association carrying an impressive Chinese Dragon and both the Newtown Primary School and Bosnian Lily Association contributed around 100 people each to the parade.

The street started filling with people who came to browse through the eclectic range of stalls selling everything from ethnic fashion to fairy wings. The Geelong West Library displayed posters that had been created by children from primary schools of Geelong West and surrounding areas. They also hosted a Chess Tournament with the Geelong Chess Club and badge making workshops for children. Entertainment included youth bands live on stage, Xbox games and skate and scooter ramps. Children enjoyed an animal nursery, painting in the park, a children’s gym, interactive music, scouts physical challenges, storytelling, singing, and dancing. Dazzling Dan the Magic Man made his debut at Pako Festa also.

Pako Festa has always been an opportunity for communities to come together and show their support of each other. At the event this year, it was more important than ever to embrace this sentiment. In the wake of the bushfires that had recently devastated our state, Pako Festa invited us to show our support for all the communities in country areas that so badly need our assistance. Westpac Bank representatives collected all day for the Bushfire Relief Fund.

This year, Pako Festa was pleased to welcome members of the Karen community. Exiled from Burma, many of these people have come from refugee camps inside the Thai border. It has been a struggle for these people just to reach Australia, let alone establish a new life.

For the twenty-eighth consecutive year, Pako Festa has provided a superb smorgasbord of song, music, food, and multicultural magic for the people of Geelong and beyond. The event was staged on Saturday, 27th February in Pakington Street, Geelong West. Despite an inclement start to the day, crowds swelled as back-to-back performances starred on eight separate stages and continued throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

This year Pako Festa attracted the participation of around 30 cultural community groups, up to 60 community groups and a total attendance of around 100,000 people.

With a theme of ‘Many Faces’, it invited visitors to see and appreciate the diversity of faces in the crowd – each one individual, each one with its own story to tell. ‘Street Face’ was a community arts project that ran in conjunction with the festival and presented larger-than-life portraits on city buildings, creating a massive outdoor gallery.

Pakington Street was also home to larger-than-life portraits that literally transformed the street (and other buildings around the city) into a massive outdoor gallery. This unique art project was a perfect reflection of the theme. Visitors enjoyed the many faces of the festival itself as it entertained, delighted, surprised, educated and most of all, celebrated the richness and beauty of our cultural diversity.

The event really kicked off with the grand Pako Parade. This spectacle brought together hundreds of performers, cultural community members, school groups, local businesses, agencies, many with highly decorated floats, to parade along the length of Pakington Street. Crowds thronged to West Park for the welcome by the Wathaurong and Official Opening Ceremony.

“Pako Festa brings so many diverse groups together to celebrate in harmony. It reminds us that the things we have in common are much more important than the things that divide us”, said Luisa La Fornara, the event manager. Michael Wasley, MatchWorks General Manager, was also pleased with the event. “MatchWorks is very proud to, again this year, be the naming right sponsor of the MatchWorks Pako Festa. We congratulate Diversitat for organising such a wonderful event”, he said.

The Drum out Project kicked off the Street Parade and up to 300 people made a big sound as they performed simultaneously to one of the largest crowds Pako Festa has ever seen over the past 29 years. Crowds jostle for the best position as a colourful stream of cultural and community floats, groups, entertainers and brass bands flows along the 1 kilometre festival precinct.

In the months leading up to Pako Festa, series of workshops were conducted with community groups including the Croatian, Dutch, Italian, Irish, Congolese, French, Maori, Lithuanian, Polish, Karen, Chinese, Spanish and Japanese communities.
Local schools were also involved - St. Patricks Primary School, St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School, North Geelong Secondary College, Grovedale West Primary School and Whittington Primary School. In addition, we were pleased to include staff from Karingal and MatchWorks as well as children from Deaf Children Australia.

The Official Event opening was launched by the Hon. Nick Kotsiras MP, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship.
Over the course of the afternoon and into the evening, the street pulsed to the beat of back-to-back performances across a number of world music stages. Hundreds of performers from a myriad of multicultural backgrounds present traditional and modern music, dance and song. As well as introducing members from some of our newest communities, the event continues to attract groups who haven’t missed a single festival in its 28 year history – groups coming from Croatia, Holland, the Philippines, Greece, Germany, Scotland, Poland, Lithuania, Portugal, China, Italy, Spain, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, Wales and Ukraine.

The entertainment extends to art and craft displays, fashion parades, interactive music and dance workshops, community choirs and popular local performers with music and song from country to rock. There is a dedicated youth stage and skate park area, a Carmen Miranda bar serving international food and drinks with best views of the stage, and fun for children with face painting, art activities, games in the park and an animal nursery.

33 communities were represented in the parade and on stage: Afghan, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Congolese, Croatian, Dutch, Filipino, French, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Indian, Iranian, Italian, Karen, Karenni, Liberian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Maori, Mexican, Polish, Russian, Scottish, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Sudanese, Ukrainian, Welsh and Zimbabwean. A further 30 local community groups such as schools, social clubs, music groups and bands, sports clubs were also involved on the day, with many participating in the much loved Pako Parade.

Carmen Miranda kicked off the parade down ‘Pako’ creating colour and movement representing each of the years the great procession has transpired. A sculptural mobile installation, using recycled materials from previous Festivals, became a “float” as part of the Parade. The City of Greater Geelong's GASP (Geelong Adolescent Sexuality Project) assisted in developing the sculptural pieces and offered audience members the opportunity to add their own anti-discrimination message to these works of art to commemorate Pako Festa’s 30 year history of celebrating cultural diversity.

The great Pako Festa Parade winners included St. Patricks Primary School, The Chinese Community and the Slovenian Community.

20 communities conducted food stalls, selling their cultural cuisine, tantalising tastebuds with food from far and wide.

The 30th Birthday Celebrations also included a giant screen and roving Cultural Connectors, connecting you, your family and friends with the festival. With the support of Codeacious, a local company, who set up a computer with customised software to continuously look for new photos and automatically show them on the big screen throughout the day, along with any tweets.

The Pako Festa celebrations continued into the night with an after party in the Geelong West Town Hall. The night included Latin sounds of Combo La Revelacion supported by the soulful sounds of Sabrina and the Red Vans.

Near Pakington Strand, we created Geelong’s own slice of France showcasing our local Alliance Fransaise de Geelong information stall and a wonderful Bilingual Puppet Show (in French & English), Beauty and the Beast, was presented by Carrousel Theatre.

To mark 30 years of Pako Festa, a collection of Pako Festa Posters from 1983 through to 2012 was on display. The collection reflected how the event had evolved over the years.

Pako Festa saw unprecedented numbers flocking to enjoy the multicultural celebration. Police estimated attendance was up around 10% from last year with, over the course of the day, about 110,000 people coming to see Pako Festa.

Event manager Luisa La Fornara said, “There's no doubt this was our biggest Pako Festa ever and one of the best things about the day was there were no major incidents, despite the large crowds. It was a day when Geelong celebrated in true harmony. Thanks to all and Viva la Pako Festa!”

The great Pako Festa Parade included 80 different cultural or community groups being represented. Many of them in larger numbers than ever before. This was our biggest Parade on record. Crowds jostled for the best position as a colourful stream of cultural and community floats, groups, entertainers and brass bands flowed along the 1 kilometre festival precinct. With the theme “Wonders of The World”, the Parade presented an incredible spectrum of outstanding costumes and floats.

People came to browse through the eclectic range of stalls selling everything from ethnic fashion to fairy wings. The Geelong West Library displayed posters created by children from primary schools of Geelong West and surrounding areas. They also hosted a Chess Tournament with the Geelong Chess Club and badge making workshops for children.

At the Youth area, entertainment included youth bands live on stage, Xbox games and skate and scooter ramps. Children enjoyed an animal nursery, painting in the park, a children’s gym, interactive music, scouts physical challenges, storytelling, singing, dancing and Dazzling Dan the Magic Man made his debut at Pako Festa.

There were brilliant buskers, a vast spread of ethnic and local foods and a string of roving street performers.

There were performances on four world music stages from Macedonians to Maoris, Spanish to Sudanese, Indians to Italians, Ukrainians to you name it - the program was as varied as it was exciting.

Home & Away Stars from Channel 7 included Bernard Curry, Conrad Coleby, Esther Anderson and Rebecca Breeds.

Pako Festa celebrated its 32nd Event with a full day of fantastic fun, music, dance and food. Once again, police estimated attendance numbers to be in excess of 100,000 people.

The event organizers, Diversitat, thanked all the event staff, sponsors and event contractors, hardworking Volunteers, Pakington Street Traders, the Geelong Community and all the people from far and wide who joined them in this extraordinary celebration of cultural diversity. A million thanks to the following hard working, passionate and tired local cultural community groups that paraded down the street, cooked delicious food and performed their hearts out. Afghan, Bosnian, Chinese, Croatian, Congolese, Dutch, Filipino, French, Greek, Hazara, Hungarian, Indonesian, Iranian, Irish, Italian, Indian, Karen, Karenni, Liberian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Maori, Nepalese, Polish, Scottish, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Sudanese, Ukrainian and Wathaurong Communities together in harmony.

The event successfully introduced the “Weaving of Cultures” which consisted of images on the Albert Street wall and at the Pakington Strand. Pako Festa staff took photos of audience members in front of the landscapes and streamed the images onto the large outdoor screen on the event day. These images became available on the Pako Festa Facebook page after the event day.

Management of the Pakington Strand site held a competition, in partnership with Geelong Advertiser, using coupons in the newspaper which was a successful campaign with over 150 people entering over two days.

Pako Festa was awarded state winner for the best regional event by The Australian Event Awards this year. Pakington Street turned into a sea of colour, as thousands packed the street to celebrate the festival's 33rd year. The theme of the event was “Different Therefore Equal” and showcased 35 ethnic community groups, community services, local schools and organisations.

This theme allowed Pako Festa to catch attention and then reinforce the core idea that difference is something to be celebrated. By celebrating difference the event emphasised equality and the need for respect for all human beings. We are all the same and it's our experiences that make us different irrespective of cultural backgrounds, religious belief or economic status.

In support of this theme, Pako Festa collaborated with The National Wool Museum to upcycle 30 sculptural structures no longer required. Community groups creatively re-purposed the structures, which were then featured in the Pako Festa Street Parade.

Diversitat CEO, Michael Martinez, said there were more people who were born overseas now living in Geelong than ever before.

Highlights of the event included 150 food stalls, 60 performance groups, 90 floats, and approximately 2000 people in the street parade. Other highlights included a piazza area in Pakington Strand, a market with local produce, products and music, performances, a treasure hunt to discover incredible artworks, a showing of an Italian movie, Human Capital by the Pivotonian Cinema and a photographic project presented by an international photographer comprised of images that reflect the event theme "Different Therefore Equal" and celebrated humanity.

Pako Festa celebrated its 34th year with the largest crowds ever. The day was filled with colour, music and most importantly a diversity of food from around the world.

Geelong’s diverse communities collectively put on the greatest show ever starting with the parade and then showcasing culture, through food, craft and dancing. Once again, the street parade did not disappoint with over 90 floats on display.

Pako Festa sends a strong message in these troubled times in which we live: our preparedness to interact with, work with, and treat each other with dignity and respect demolishes the walls of division and conflicts, bringing everyone together in a spirit of understanding, acceptance and celebration of life itself.

The event raised over $80,000 for their own communities, allowing these groups to continue to promote, share and preserve their cultural heritage.

This year also marked the 40th anniversary of Diversitat and to commemorate this milestone, the mission was set to run 40 events throughout the year; celebrating our contribution and that of local ethnic communities to the region. Our local communities consist of diverse cultures and people, spanning post WW2 migrants from Europe to those fleeing persecution today. Our programs do not just embrace diversity, we create inclusion and unity based on an understanding that difference, in all its forms, enriches community life.

Ten years of cultural dialogue between Geelong and Italy's Piedmont region culminated with Diversitat's launch of an exhibition at Deakin's Waterfront Gallery. The exhibition, Visions of Italy, showcased over 50 works from artists from the Turin area of Italy in the latest leg of a cultural exchange that started with local artists Jan and Geo Francis in 2003.

The Communities participating this year; Afghan, Brazilian, Bosnian, Chinese, Congolese, Croatian, Dutch, Filipino, French, Greek, Hungarian, Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Irish, Karen, Karenni, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Maori, Nepalese, Polish, Russian, Scottish, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Sudanese, Thai, Ukrainian and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Op.

On Saturday, 25th February, Pako Festa celebrated its 35th year with the largest crowds ever. The day was filled with colour, music and most importantly a diversity of food from around the world.

‘Food of the World’ was the theme for the event, which inspired the creation of the community Recipe Cards. Once again the street parade did not disappoint with over 90 floats parading a sea of colour.

Free recipe cards were available from the local community group food stalls on the event day, featuring 17 signature dishes from Bosnian, Croatian, Dutch, Filipino, French, Greek, Indonesian, Iranian, Irish, Lao Thai, Macedonian, Maori, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian and Ukrainian cuisines. The 17 international recipe cards were available to collect free from community food vans and marquees on the day with any food purchase.

Visitors were transported to more than 20 different countries, experiencing the international cuisine and diverse music of our multicultural community. Performance groups included traditional folk dance groups, school performance groups, community choirs and local musicians, all resplendent in colourful traditional costumes.

Arts and Events Manager, Luisa LaFornara, is proud of the success and recognition Pako Festa has achieved, both state-wide and nationally. Luisa said “Pako Festa has been recognised as Victoria’s largest free multicultural celebration, receiving a number of awards in the 2004 Premier’s Award for Harmony in the Community and Victorian Multicultural Awards For Excellence. In 2009 the event was a finalist in The Australian Event Awards in the Best Community Event Category. In 2015 Pako Festa won The Australian Event Awards, Best Community Event Category for the State of Victoria, which is a fantastic achievement for our not-for profit organisation and the event keeps growing every year!”

Pako Festa celebrated its 36th year filled with colour, music and most importantly a diversity of food from around the world.

Geelong’s diverse communities put on the greatest show ever starting with the parade and then showcasing culture through food, craft and dancing. Pako Festa enabled relationships to be built as local communities worked together to develop event themes, create activities and perform together. Furthermore, funds were raised to allow cultural groups to continue to share their diverse cultural heritage.
Awards were presented to participants of the great Pako Festa Parade who showed great dedication to preserving cultural identity.

The 2018 event welcomed the Japanese Community who conducted a craft stall and participated in the parade. The local Sikh community, also for the first time, conducted turban demonstrations allowing Pako Festa audience to learn the art of wearing the perfect turban and was embraced by festival patrons.

A new event logo was created, Carmen Miranda logo had been the logo for the event from 1994, and it was decided the logo required a modern look. Elements representing the food, music and cultural icons from the original logo were utilised to create the new one.

Pako Festa saw well over 100,000 people getting together to embrace and celebrate our fantastic ethnic diversity on a perfect summers day. The event attracted more Melbourne audiences this year due to marketing campaigns in Melbourne areas and social media campaigns.

From 9.00am, when the first people arrived, until 5.00pm, when the last tired revelers headed home, the event provided a fabulous showcase of our cultural diversity. People danced, sang, participated and enjoyed. They feasted on a smorgasbord of cultural food, folk dancing, workshops, exhibitions and entertainment on six world music stages. It was a day of peace, joy and “feel good” fun that appealed to participants of all ages and all backgrounds.

A huge thank you goes out to the people of Geelong. It is the people who attended Pako Festa who made it such a magnificent day. So thank you for attending in such impressive numbers, thank you for celebrating in such peace and harmony and thank you for helping us to send a powerful message to the broader community – multiculturalism is alive and well and living in Geelong!

The great Pako Festa Parade did not disappoint, full of colour and movement with nearly 70 entries parading along Pakington Street.

Pako Festa was delivered by Diversitat and supported by The Victorian State Government, Victorian Multicultural Commission, Channel 7 and the City of Greater Geelong. In addition, the event could not have been delivered without the support of the local diverse communities, Pakington Street Traders and many other local and non-local organisations and businesses contributing to the event. Thank you to the following new Community Sponsors including The Bank of Melbourne, TAC and Pacific Smiles while we welcomed back The BCC Group, Viatek, Adroit Insurance & Risk, Deakin University, WorkSafe, Geelong Advertiser, SC Technology Group, VicSuper, Furphy and the Pakington Strand.

Pako Festa showcased 127 Stalls along Pakington Street of which 21 of those were Community Food stalls. 3 new communities conducted food stalls (Indian, Nepalese and Hungarian). New signage was created to identify Community Food Stalls as part of the Recipe Card project and 4,000 recipe cards were produced to increase visits to community food stalls.

Pako Festa saw well over 100,000 people getting together to embrace and celebrate our fantastic ethnic diversity on a perfect summers day! Most likely, this year’s event was the last of many major events staged in Geelong due to COVID-19.

The event marked Pako Festa’s 38 consecutive year and continues to offer an important platform on which to celebrate, highlight and preserve cultural diversity. The parade involved over 2,200 participants and enjoyed by a healthy audience of approximately 20,000 people. The event promotes a general positive awareness of the cultural diversity in the Greater Geelong Region, through a combination of food, music, dance, and creative projects by transfer of information in a harmonious environment. Once again, 17 recipe cards were successfully produced for the event, encouraging audiences to visit a local community food stall on the event day. The cards are only available at the event and have not been reproduced online in order to enhance Pako Festa as a destination event.

The great Pako Festa Parade did not disappoint, full of colour and movement with nearly 70 entries parading along Pakington Street. We congratulate all the parade winners, the huge amount of community support, commitment and long hours was evident in all entries!

The Event Theme “Elements of Culture” was confirmed for the next three years, leading up to the 40th Birthday in 2022. As part of the event this year, we are excited to launch a project that reflects the rich diversity we have right on our doorstep. This photographic project pays tribute to the important contribution our local diverse communities have made to the success of Pako Festa over the past 38 years. The project will capture up to 40 cultures over the next two years, as we move closer to our 40th Birthday.

Another project, supported by SC Technology Group, Walk in my Shoes Project, encourages people to walk in someone else’s shoes. Each image features a diverse Geelong community member. We thank SC Technology Group for embracing the engaging element of this three-year project.

Thanks to all our Community Sponsors including The Bank of Melbourne, TAC, Xtreme Technologies, The BCC Group, Adroit Insurance & Risk, Deakin University, Geelong Advertiser, SC Technology Group, VicSuper, Furphy, The Pulse and National Australia Bank.

Pako Festa looked very different this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however still an incredible celebration of multiculturalism and diversity.

The COVIDSafe format for the event featured three different elements - a global food offering, night projections and an arts trail.

The global food offering was held on the traditional day of Pako Festa, the last Saturday in February, and for the first time, this saw the event extend beyond Pakington Street.

Event-goers were invited to order delicious food from 18 of Geelong’s ethnic communities online with something to suit all tastes from Indonesian gado gado to French macaroons and a Wathaurong Bushtucker BBQ. Selected locations such as Petit Park and Diversitat’s Northern Community Hub featured live, cultural entertainment like Japanese drumming and Fijian dancing, just to name a few.

Night projections were displayed on the Geelong West Town Hall each night for two weeks and visitors enjoyed seeing a 20 minute audio-visual display created by local projection artist Matt Bonner. The projections featured 30 people from local ethnic communities telling their story and what their culture means to them. The multicultural display was unlike anything seen before in Geelong and was met with positive feedback from event-goers.

The arts trail along Pakington Street showcased the work of local artists and gave people the opportunity to explore in their own time and in a COVIDSafe way over the month of March. There was a wide variety of artworks which used a large range of materials and the works touched on a number of different themes from coping with the lockdowns of 2020 to celebrating the beauty and rich colours of local Geelong landscapes.

Despite the impacts and restrictions of COVID-19 in February over 7,000 people still flocked to the Northern Community HUB, to join in the new format of our Reimagined Pako Festa 2022.

This year, also marked Pako Festa's 40th birthday and was the perfect opportunity to embrace, celebrate and showcase our local ethnic diversity. People danced, sang and feasted the day away on a smorgasbord of cultural food, folk dancing and an array of colourful, vibrant costumes provided entertainment on one large outdoor stage. It was a day of peace, joy and connection with over 25 communities joining in this iconic event.

Established in 1983. Pako Festa has been one of the highlights on the Geelong Events Calendar for over 40 years. This event is an important vehicle for Cultura. Bringing diverse community groups together and offering a safe environment in which to share their culture with the broader community, while fostering a spectacular cultural experience. In addition to the event day. The 2022 event included a large-scale photographic exhibition on display at Market Square (with 36 representatives from diverse communities involved) from the 18th Feb to the 18th March. Market Square Geelong estimate over 200,000 people visited the centre during the exhibition.

“Coming out of a difficult two years post Covid-19. this event was exactly what was needed to lift the spirits and morale of our communities and it was a demonstration of what Diversitat and MACS do so well - unite and bring together people from a wide group of nationalities to celebrate our cultural diversity in harmony.” Joy Leggo CEO Cultura

The 2022 Pako Festa was delivered by Diversitat & MACS and supported by The Victorian State Government, the City of Greater Geelong, WorkSafe, Streamline Media, SC Technology, The Geelong Advertiser, Market Square Geelong, Event Kit, DOW, 94.7 the Pulse and The Geelong Bank . Most importantly it could not be delivered without the support of the local diverse communities!