Queens Park to host showcase of world cultures

Coming to Queens Park this Saturday (October 22), from 3pm to 8pm, Global Grooves will feature a full stage line-up of musicians, bands, dance groups and cultural performances.

There will also be a workshop teepee and more than a dozen food vendors with exotic food options, as well as coffee and dessert vendors.

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

“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.

“We (the Filipino community) will be doing a lechon (rotisserie pig), which is a dish we cook at home when we have a celebration.

“When people come and try our lechon they are connecting with our culture and joining us in this celebration.”

Ms Hanrahan said not only was Global Grooves an amazing showcase of multiculturalism, it was also a great networking opportunity for different communities to share ideas, experiences and stories.

Mayor Greg Williamson agreed and said Global Grooves gave residents the opportunity to experience a variety of multicultural home cooking styles not available anywhere else.

“It’s also a very colourful event – the costumes are sensational, and the dances and music come from across the globe,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Where else will you find bagpipes and Irish dancing sharing the stage with traditional dances from the Philippines, Napal, China and Thailand?

“And the workshops on offer are equally diverse – there’s everything from ochre crushing and kokadama making to henna painting and Fijian dancing.

“Entry is free and Queens Park is a tremendous venue with plenty of space and shade.

“It’s going to be an amazing day and we look forward to seeing a big turnout.”

Global Grooves Main Stage

• 3pm - Mayor’s welcome
• 3.15pm - Yuwi Corporation
• 3.45pm - Piping Mad
• 4.10pm - Mackay Filipino-Australian Community
• 4.30pm - Nepalese Australian Association of Mackay
• 4.45pm - Tchundal Malar Aboriginal Dance Troupe
• 5.10pm - Sugar City Rock and Rollers Mackay
• 5.25pm - Mackay and District Pipe Band
• 5.50pm - Mackay Chinese Association
• 6.05pm - Claddagh School of Irish Dance
• 6.30pm - Mackay Chinese Association
• 6.45pm - Thai Aussie Community Mackay
• 7.10pm - Mackay Chinese Association
• 7.20pm - Will Blume

Workshop Teepee

• 3pm to 6pm – Face painters by Let’s Face It
• 3.30pm to 4.30pm - Henna workshop by Mackay Regional Council Libraries
• 3pm to 4.45pm - Ochre crushing workshop by Melanie Kemp
• 5pm to 5.45pm - Succulent Kokadama workshop by Melanie Kemp
• 6pm to 7pm - Dance workshop by the Fiji Association

For a full list of market stalls and food vendors, visit the Mackay Festivals Facebook page.

Please note, Global Grooves is an alcohol-free event.