2013 Pako Festa
The 2013 Pako Festa returns to West Geelong on the 23rd of February in what is one of the largest cultural celebrations in Australia.
The festival has been a premier event on Geelong’s calendar since 1983 and the 2013 Pako Festa has an incredible line up of food, music, dance and multiculturalism.
As with every year the highlight of the day is the sensational parade down Pakington Street starting at 11:00 am. The colourful parade features dozens of community groups many parading in their national dress. There is music, celebrities and fun for all ages.
After the traditional opening by dignitaries from government and the Wathaurong people an amazing afternoon of music and dance fills the lane ways, parks and open space around Pakington Street. Some the 2013 highlights will include the Geelong Indonesian Community who are presenting two special dances, the Mezei Virag Hungarian Dance Group who are presenting a performance called Evening in the Spinning Room and the amazing Lithuanian Dances who will perform their angry goat dance.
The Mojo Corner with their rough soul and boogie will perform at stage outside the Petrel Hotel at 4:00 PM, they will follow Corten a six piece Geelong band who hit the stage at 3:00 PM. Geelong- Melbourne outfit will perform at the Barking Dog Stage around 1:00 PM. For lovers of beautiful singing head to the Bethel Church at 12:30 to see a lovely performance from the Geelong Welsh Ladies Choir.
For lovers of Spanish and Latin dance, the Pako Festa has some treats for you. The Melbourne Dance Company will be performing on the Chanel 7 stage at 3:10PM with 23 Mexican Dancers, Colombian Cafe Moreno will be performing on the Diversitat Stage at 2:30PM and “La Cumbiamba and La Cumbiambita” another Colombian dance troop will be performing on the West Park Stage from 12:20PM. Karavana Flamenca will play a mix of Spanish Gypsy, traditional flamenco and Cuban and Moorish music at the Diversitat Stage from 4:30PM.
For some Bollywood action head to the West Park Stage at 4:15 to see the Bindaas Bollywood Dance Group, these performers have so much energy and really know how to excite a crowd with some amazing song and dance.
Make sure you come hungry because there will be some of the tastiest food from all over the world. Expect to see Australian Aboriginal food, Filipino, Italian, German, Iranian, Chinese, Indonesian, Polish, Mexican, Serbian, Macedonian, Greek, Maroi, Slovenian, Croatian, Indian..the list goes on and on, the choices will be sensational.
