Victoria’s biggest free celebration of cultural diversity

ONE STREET.  43 CULTURES.

Street Parade / Food / Performance/ Workshops /Exhibitions /Family

A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT 

2018 theme ‘Reflections of Culture’

Pako Festa 2018, what a day it was!

Pako Festa 2018 saw about 100,000 people getting together to embrace and celebrate our fantastic ethnic diversity.  From 9am when the first people arrived until 6.00pm when the last tired revelers headed home, the event provided a fabulous showcase of our cultural diversity. People danced, they sang, they participated and they enjoyed. They feasted on a smorgasbord of cultural food, folk dancing, workshops, art exhibitions, multicultural craft displays and entertainment on four world music stages. It was a day of peace, joy and “feel good” fun that appealed to participants of all ages and all backgrounds.

But the greatest thanks we save for the people of Geelong. It is the people who attended Pako Festa who made it such a magnificent day. So thanks for attending in such impressive numbers, thanks for celebrating in such peace and harmony, and thanks for helping us to send a powerful message to the broader community – multiculturalism is alive and well and living in Geelong!

Congratulations go to parade winners:

Best use of theme ‘Reflections of Culture’ – Bell Park North Primary School

Best Culturally Aware – Indonesian Community of Geelong

Best School in the parade – Ashby Primary School

Best Musical in the Parade – Geelong West Brass Band

Stall Holder Winners:

Best use of  the theme ‘Reflections of Culture’ –  Abrisa Brazilian Community of Geelong

Best decorated stall – Japanese Community of Geelong

Photo supplied by Phil Hines

The Pako Story

Pako Festa dates back to 1983, when the Ethnic Communities Council Inc. got together with Geelong West Traders and Geelong West City Council with an ambitious idea for a community-driven party that celebrated the region’s diverse cultural communities.

Much has changed since 1983. The very first Pako attracted 12,000 people and ended with a tug of war! In 2017, over 100,000 people attended, 5,000 people took part in the street parade and 10,000 people performed on five stages.

These days the festival is organised by Diversitat and has grown into Victoria’s largest free multi-arts and cultural party. Some things remain the same. Pako is about community and is led by community. The event celebrates and highlights the extraordinary contribution of individuals, cultural groups and multicultural communities in Geelong and across Australia.

Join us at this year’s Pako and share in the enriching connections of culture.