Headline acts for Festival of Cultures named

27 February 2018

Headline acts for Festival of Cultures named

The countdown is on for the city’s annual Festival of Cultures. From 17 – 24 March, Palmerston North will host a line-up of culturally diverse events as part of the Festival.

Headline acts are booked and there is a good level of registrations for community performers and stalls for the World Food, Craft and Music Fair.

“Planning has been underway since last year for the Festival. We again have a fantastic line-up of entertaining and participative events,” says PNCC Community Engagement Manager Ian Littleworth. “We are delighted to announce two key acts are to perform during the festival – Cumbia Bros and Afro Tropical Band.”

Cumbia Bros are bringing a taste of Argentina to the Festival. The nine-piece, Wellington-based Argentinian band promises to create a Latin party on the main stage during the World Food, Craft and Music Fair. Their music which combines Spanish and English while always maintaining an upbeat Latin dance style will have people dancing to their celebratory sounds. The band has previously performed at Cupa Dupa, Coastella and international soccer games in New Zealand.

Afro Tropical Band, are a four-piece Brazilian band based in Auckland. Be prepared for their beautiful voices, passionate guitar playing and intoxicating percussion rhythms. The band is made up of Brazilians who also team up with Cuban Ernesto Zuniga to add a spicy Caribbean twist to their unique sound.

The format for this year’s Festival has changed with the Lantern Parade opening the event on Saturday 17 March. Lantern-making workshops start on 25 February and will run to 11 March at various locations.

Other events and activities being held as part of the Festival are:

Saturday 17 March

Lantern Parade -The Square - 7pm – 10pm

Sunday 18 March

Multicultural Fashion Parade – The Square – 1pm-3pm

Tuesday 20 March

Fusion Cooking – Youth Space – 4pm – 5.30pm

Manawatu Community Choir and IPU NZ Papuan Singing Group - The Square – 5.30 – 6.30pm

Wednesday 21 March

Race Relations Day Pot Luck Lunch – Te Manawa – 11.30am – 1.30pm

Bollywood: An Evening of Colourful Art, Dance and Film – The Globe Theatre – 5.30pm – 9.30pm. Includes a Rangoli workshop, a Bollywood dance workshop and film screening.

Thursday 22 March

Multicultural chat group – Central Library - 12pm – 1.30pm

Japanese Cultural Experience – Central Library – 5pm – 6pm

Japanese Film Screening – Central Library – 6pm – 8pm

Friday 23 March

Beat of the Drum – Youth Space 4pm – 5pm

Saturday 24 March

World Food, Craft and Music Fair - The Square 10am – 4pm. This is the busiest day of the festival and an opportunity to see, hear and taste the world in one day. Free cultural performances, activities, ethnic food and crafts stalls in the events quadrant.

The Festival of Cultures is one of the longest-standing community events in Palmerston North. It is the city’s celebration of its diversity of cultures through art, performance and activities while exploring connections within our community. The festival is delivered through a partnership between Palmerston City Council and the Manawatu Multicultural Centre.

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