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More than 6,000 people came together for the 2022 Reimagined Pako Festa held at the Diversitat Northern Community Hub on Saturday 26 February. The event marked the 40th anniversary of Pako Festa and saw attendees embrace and celebrate our fantastic ethnic diversity on what was a perfect summer’s day.
From the moment people began arriving through the gates at 10am, the event provided a fabulous showcase of our cultural diversity and continued all the way through to when the last revellers headed home at 5pm. People danced, they sang, they participated and they enjoyed. They feasted on a smorgasbord of cultural food, folk dancing and entertainment on one large outdoor stage. It was a day of peace, joy and “feel good” fun that appealed to all ages and all backgrounds.
I would like to take a moment to reflect and congratulate everyone involved in the organising of Pako Festa. To the amazing Diversitat & MACS Volunteers that came together to help – thank you so much, you did an amazing job. Many, many long hours were put in to make the event run smoothly and I am truly appreciative.
It was the atmosphere of the event that was the absolute highlight. People were happy, they were smiling and enjoying the music. The dance and the colourful costumes as well as the aromas as you walked around the stalls was spectacular. Coming out of a difficult two years, it was exactly what was needed and it was a demonstration of what Diversitat and MACS does so well – bring people together from a wide group of nationalities to celebrate our cultural diversity in harmony.
At this particular time when we are facing the unknown overseas, it is so important that we work together with tolerance and respect. A very Happy 40th Birthday to Pako Festa – may there be many more to come.
To view the amazing photo galleries from the 2022 event day visit the Pako Festa Facebook page.
The 2022 Pako Festa is delivered by Diversitat & MACS and is supported by the Victorian State Government, the City of Greater Geelong, WorkSafe, Streamline Media, SC Technology, The Geelong Advertiser, Market Square Geelong, Event Kit, DOW, 94.7 the Pulse and The Geelong Bank. Most importantly it could not be delivered without the support of the local diverse communities!
Joy Leggo, CEO Diversitat
