17 September 2025: Wollongong City Council media release
Hey Wollongong, Culture Mix is just around the corner, and we’re keen for you to have the best time!
On Saturday 20 September, Wollongong CBD will come alive to celebrate our vibrant and diverse multicultural community through food, music, dance, art and workshops.
The festivities kick off at 11am and will run until 7pm. There’s lots to see and do with the program spanning across the Arts Precinct, Crown Street Mall and Lower Crown Street.
To make sure you have a great day out with family and friends, we’ve pulled together five things you must know before Saturday.
For the full layout of the day, you can visit our Culture Mix page or see our FAQs page. You can also stay up to date on Council’s social media channels.
1. Pick your own global adventure with lots of free activities
The program is jam packed with lots of free activities so you can create, eat, and move your way throughout the day.
Dust off your dancing shoes and take free lessons at Let’s Dance in Lower Crown Street including line dancing, Bollywood and KPOP. For our little ones, there are many child-friendly activities such as the free Henna Station or making their own instrument workshop. If you’re more hands-on, join an Aboriginal Weaving workshop or learn to make your own Korean Shadow puppets At the Library.
We encourage you to look at the program online or on the day, so you don’t miss out experiencing the world.
2. Don’t miss the Welcome Ceremony in the Arts Precinct
To mark the start of the festival, there’ll be a Welcome Ceremony from 11 – 11.30am at the Celebration Stage in the Arts Precinct.
We will have Aunty Sharralyn Robinson conduct a Welcome to Country. This will be followed by a Cultural Dance by Kugang Djarmbi and Smoking Ceremony by Uncle Peter Button. From here, the festivities will begin on Dharawal Country.
3. Culture Mix is an inclusive and accessible event
We’re committed to an inclusive and accessible event for people of all abilities. We want everyone to have an enjoyable and safe experience on Saturday, so check out what’s on offer below:
- Blind and low vision programs – audio described tour and workshop at Wollongong Art Gallery, and the Welcome Ceremony will be audio described.
- Auslan program - Rebecca Kent and Clare Murray will be interpreting the Auslan program of activities. See our website for more details.
- Quiet Space – located at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre
- Accessible viewing area – at our main Celebration Stage in the Arts Precinct
- Accessible paths of travel – from Crown Street Mall to Lower Crown Street and into the Arts Precinct
For more information, head to our Accessibility event page.
4. Take a moment to sit back and enjoy the show
If you’re pressed on time, a great way to capture the essence of the festival is by watching one of the showcases – a compilation of music and dance from a particular region. Through each performance, people get an insight into the cultural importance of the music and dance.
The Pasifika Showcase is a returning favourite that features performances from Tonga, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Aotearoa (NZ) and Cook Islands, plus a colourful costume fashion show and interactive dancing sure to get your hips swaying. This is on from 5-7pm on the World Stage at Crown Street Mall.
Closing out the night on the Celebration Stage (Arts Precinct) will be the Fiesta Latina. From 4 to 6pm, immerse yourself in a high energy celebration of Latin America presented by SALCO, featuring traditional Colombian sounds from Mi Hermano Yo and beats by Latin Power.
5. Plan your visit for the best experience
Culture Mix is in the heart of the Wollongong CBD, so please take a moment to consider how you will get here. It will save you a lot of time on the day (which means more time for fun).
You can take public transport, cycle or drive in. We have the free Gong Shuttle Bus (55A and 55C) that runs every 10 to 20 minutes. While there’s plenty of free parking in the CBD on weekends, it’s best to plan ahead and consider park-and-ride options, as the area is expected to be busy. Check out our Culture Mix page for the best option for you.
A dedicated accessible drop off and pick up zone will be available on Burelli Street, adjacent to the Arts Precinct and in front of the Wollongong Art Gallery. There are also accessible parking bays in the precinct. No bookings are required and are provided on first come basis. Find out more information on our Accessibility page.
Please note there is a road closure in place from 6am to 10pm on Crown Street, between Kembla Street and Corrimal Street.
Culture Mix is made possible thanks to a NSW Government grant.
