Flame gets out and about with the Culture Mix crew
The cold change which whipped through late on the day couldn't dampen spirits enlivened by the city's multicultural festival
Thousands visited Wollongong CBD on September 26 for Culture Mix, the city’s annual multicultural festival, which offered a lively, all-day showcase of global music, dance and food.
The annual community event brought together locals, newcomers and performers to celebrate Wollongong’s diverse heritage with a street parade, live performances across multiple stages and endless food options.
Attendees shared their highlights and reflections on what the celebration means for the community.
Seamus & Winnie
Seamus: "It's just beautiful to see the whole community coming together and celebrating each other.”
"With so much of the media and the world being so focused on hatred and division these days, having everyone come together in harmony and celebration is more necessary now than ever."
Winnie: "We just got here but the energy is so beautiful. We’re looking forward to the food, meeting people, seeing the stalls, celebrating."
Seamus: "Just seeing what there is to see – there's always something fun and new to discover and experience.”
Jen & Gary
Jen: "It's actually our first Culture Mix, because we just moved here to Wollongong! That's why we want to experience this, and see all of the different cultures here today. We’ve just gotten here, so we’ll go have a look around and get involved.”
Alexis, Eleanor, Sophie, Meena, Naira, Reetam and Rash
Sophie: “Our day has been so good. [The kids] have gotten some strawberry boba. We didn’t realise how big this event is. It’s so crowded! We’re excited about the shows and the dancing!”
Rash: “It’s great being with our friends and family, seeing the dancing and the shows, trying different foods and all the different types of cultures here… it’s lovely."
