Global Grooves provides immersive multicultural experience

Global Grooves will transform Queens Park into a global village this Saturday, October 21, from 3pm to 8pm.

The festival will feature fascinating cultural workshops, mesmerising dance performances and global music, markets, and a smorgasbord of international cuisines.

There will be Maltese and Italian baked goods, lechon (Filipino rotisserie pig), curries, dumplings, German sausages, Dutch poffertjes, Greek kebabs, Chinese and Malaysian specialties and so much more.

Deputy Mayor Karen May said council had recently celebrated swearing in people from 100 different nations at our region’s citizenship ceremonies.

“To be able to say that the Mackay region is made up of cultures and customs from 100 different nationalities is amazing,” Cr May said.

“And, while we won’t have all of those cultures on display at Global Grooves, we will have at least 20 – whether that’s through their cuisine, traditional dress, dance, workshops or market stalls,” she said.

Festivals and Events Coordinator Sarah Porter said Global Grooves was a free community event and this year the workshops on offer would allow residents to immerse themselves in cultural practices and dance.

“There will be workshops on traditional Māori tattooing and dancing, Papua New Guinean coconut weaving, Cuban dancing and rhythm circle drumming,” Ms Porter said.

This is a fantastic opportunity for festival goers to learn skills from cultural experts who are generously sharing their traditions with the community,” she said.

Filipino community leader Vivien Hanrahan said Global Grooves presented a unique opportunity.

“Mackay has many passionate multicultural communities, and they all have their festivities during the year to celebrate and showcase their cultures, but Global Grooves is special because it brings them all together and gives people a taste of a variety of cultures,” Ms Hanrahan said.

Please note, Global Grooves is an alcohol-free event. For a full list of market stalls and food vendors, visit the Mackay Festivals Facebook page at facebook.com/mackayfestivals.

The Mackay Filipino Australian Community Inc dancers in action in 2022.