The Townsville Cultural Festival celebrates its 25th year this weekend.
Famed for its diverse line-up of music, dance and food; the event is well-loved by many. But if you’ve never been before, or only dropped in for honey puffs, there’s an array of moving and uplifting events on the programme as well.
Here are 5 we think will be well worth making time for:
Listening in the Yarn Circle
Across the weekend
At the centre of the Festival sits an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander village, complete with Indigenous art, food, storytelling and live music. Make some time to sit around the campfire, listen to the storytellers as the weave their magic, and immersing yourself in the Dreamtime.
Joining the Multi-faith Prayer and Pigeon Release
Sunday morning.
Come together as a community with people from many faiths and homelands for a multi-faith prayer in the middle of the Global Village. This moving ceremony will conclude with the release of hundreds of pigeons, symbolising peace and harmony for the world.
Contributing to the giant Koala sculpture
Across the weekend
You’ve likely spotted the Festival’s existing giant scultpures around town – there’s Mother Earth, Slim Dusty, Jonathan Thurston and more! Each year these towering figures are paraded from the Strand to James Cook University for the Cultural Festival. This year, a koala will be added to the mix and you’ll have your chance to help build it. The Koala mascot will serve as a sobering reminder about our diminishing ecology and natural environment.
Take a moment to appreciate 5km of Prayer Flags
A lot of thought goes into ‘placemaking’ for events like this. Five kilometres of Himalayan-style prayer flags will mark the festival perimeters. From a distance, in reflection of the festival lights, they will make a stunning display of colour, diversity and harmony
Be sure to catch the headliners
Xavier Rudd, L-Fresh the Lion and Baker Boy will lead a dazzlingly diverse line-up of more than 100 musicians and dancers across the weekend. You won’t wait to miss a moment.
For more information about the Townsville Cultural Fest, visit their website.
