Multicultural Australia’s LUMINOUS Festival will illuminate Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct as the launch event for Multicultural Queensland Month, this Saturday, 3 August, at South Bank Parklands from 11am – 8pm.
Bringing together the largest multicultural festival in Queensland’s history, LUMINOUS Festival 2024 is an amalgamation of Multicultural Australia’s LUMINOUS Lantern Parade and MOSAIC Multicultural Festival.
Kicking off with the official opening ceremony at 10.30am, the festival includes music and dance performances on the Suncorp Mainstage, cooking demonstrations at the SBS Cultural Kitchen, music and dance workshops at the Connecting Through Arts stage, food, arts and craft stalls from the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs Cultural Marketplace, sport activations at the Queensland Government Department of Tourism and Sport Connecting Through Sport space, kids activities at the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care kids zone, and lanterns galore at the Brisbane Airport Lantern Parade at 6pm.
Christine Castley, Multicultural Australia CEO, shared her excitement about the reshaped event.
“This year, we are bringing LUMINOUS and MOSAIC together to create an experience that truly showcases the contributions and talents of Queensland’s multicultural communities,” Ms Castley said.
“The LUMINOUS Lantern Parade has a simple and powerful message of welcome, connection and belonging. It is an invite for people from across communities to walk with us in support of new Queenslanders and play an active role in creating a community that embraces people from all walks of life.
“Our MOSAIC Multicultural Festival brings the stories, traditions, and talents of culturally diverse communities to the fore, through music, dance, food, and fashion.
“Bringing our two flagship events together is an opportunity to engage more Queenslanders on our journey to create welcome and belonging and deliver the largest multicultural festival our State has ever seen.
Hosted at South Bank Parklands, Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct, the event will feature live music and dance performances, cooking demonstrations from refugee and migrant home chefs, immersive music and dance workshops, sport activations, zones for kids aged six and under, and youth, food trucks and arts and craft stalls.
The evening will be highlighted by the lantern parade procession at dusk, followed by a high-energy performance from Queensland’s premier Latin American band, The Mad Mariachi, to close out the festivities.
LUMINOUS lantern parade began as a candlelight march in support of refugees and asylum seekers in 2008. Now in its 17th year, Christine emphasised the need for unity.
“In a time of global conflict and many social challenges, we need to be intentional about how we come together as a community to celebrate the joy of true welcome, connection and belonging.
“LUMINOUS Festival is a chance for us to get to know our neighbours better and learn more about the wonderful people who call Queensland home.
“I invite you to walk with us on our journey.”
LUMINOUS Festival is delivered by Multicultural Australia, Queensland’s leading settlement provider, with support from strategic partners – Brisbane City Council, Suncorp Group, the Queensland Government Department of Multicultural Affairs and South Bank Corporation – and valued sponsors Yabbr, the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, the Queensland Government Department of Tourism and Sport, Brisbane Airport Corporation, SBS, Hastings Deering, QPASTT, TAFE Queensland, Queensland Human Rights Commission, Cultural Perspectives, BlueApache, CSNet, Carers Queensland, Brisbane Lions, Brisbane Catholic Education, Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Catholic Justice & Peace Commission and Multilink Community Services.
For Media enquiries, please contact:
Stanton Dunn
Communications, Marketing and Events Manager, Multicultural Australia
0493 291 699
standond@mcaus.org.au
