15 February 2005

Around the world in seven hours

Auckland’s richness and diversity will be celebrated with music, dance, arts and crafts from over 30 different nations at the Auckland International Cultural Festival on Sunday 6 March from 10am to 5pm.

The free festival, which attracts about 20,000 people to Potters Park in Balmoral each year, is organised by Auckland City in association with the Refugee and Migrant Service.

“The festival is a huge opportunity for new migrants to display with pride the cultural variety they bring to the city. Aucklanders should be proud to embrace, host and support events like this,” says Auckland City event organiser, Linda Deverell.

Hundreds of performers, including Many Hands, Burundian Drummers, Eritrean Dancers, Folklore Chileno Latino, Tariro and Marimba Band, Palestinian Passion, Spanish Fiesta Dancers, Celtic Flair, NZ Korean Society, Congolese Union and more, will take the stage at the festival.

Another major draw card will be the multitude of arts and crafts on display. Festival goers can also sample the wonderful array of traditional food on offer including Indian, African, Asian and European.

The festival provides a great way to find out about other cultures and meet some of the people who are now living in the Auckland community. Many of the performers are refugees who are happy to share the various aspects of their culture with Aucklanders.

For more information please visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/culturalfestival

ENDS

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