Taste of the World Cultural Festival
Published on 16 August 2024
Pictured: Cr Drew Wickerson with members of CQ Multicultural Association.
Central Queensland Multicultural Association (CQMA) and Rockhampton Regional Council are excited to celebrate Multicultural Queensland Month at this year’s Taste of the World Cultural Festival in Rockhampton on Saturday 24 August.
This year the festival promises to be even bigger and better than last year, with extended hours and a free concert by headline act, Mzaza.
Some of the attractions on the day include:
Coconut husking competition
Luminous Lantern making workshop and parade by Multicultural Australia
Community based food stalls
Cultural entertainment by community groups
Midpoint Theatre’s “Settling In” – a presentation of local migrant stories
Arts and crafts activities
Cooking display
Concert by Mzaza from 6.45pm
Rockhampton Regional Council Communities, Culture and Heritage Spokesperson Cr Drew Wickerson encouraged people to attend the free event.
“Taste of the World is a celebration of the rich cultural contributions everyone brings to our multicultural Queensland,” he said.
“Rockhampton Regional Council is very proud to be a partner of this event. We have a strong multicultural community here in Rockhampton with dozens of nationalities represented and it will be great to see a lot of those nations displaying their culture during the festival,” he said
CQMA Manager Darren Mundie said: “CQMA is really looking forward to creating this event for Rockhampton again this year, with the strong support of Rockhampton Regional Council, CQUniversity, Multicultural Queensland and the Queensland Government.
“This is an exciting and vibrant community focused event, for the wider CQ communities to come together and celebrate through food, music and friendships and it is always good to see the crowds turning up to get a taste of our multicultural world,” Mr Mundie said.
One of the features of the day will be Local theatre company Midpoint Theatre which will premiere a new work “Settling In” at the festival. The show is a presentation of four local migrant stories, exploring diverse experiences of ‘settling in’ to a new country, community and culture. The project received financial assistance from the Regional Arts Development Fund.
The festival’s headline act is Australia’s acclaimed world music sensation MZAZA, performing their show The Birth and Death of Stars. Described as ‘an exhilarating musical odyssey’; the show is a combination of music, history, and culture.
Celebrated for their mesmerizing vocals in three languages and electrifying live music, Mzaza takes audiences on a voyage to explore what links us to each other and the world around us. It’s a fusion of vocal harmonies, accordion, violin, shah kaman, percussion, double bass, and guitar.
Mzaza will also be conducting free singing and instrumental workshops on the day of the festival, with participants being invited to take part in the concert that evening. Workshop places are limited, and bookings are essential.
Taste of the World Cultural Festival will be held at Riverside Park Rockhampton on Saturday 24 August from 1pm to 8pm. Entry is free. Cash only at food stalls.
Taste of the World is a CQMA and Rockhampton Regional Council event, supported by Central Queensland University, Multicultural Australia and Queensland Government.
More information: www.facebook.com/CQMAInc and www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/TOTW2024