Rotorua's annual celebration of all things cultural - GLOBAL Fest - is set to attract a wide-ranging audience to the International Stadium on Saturday.
The community event is a celebration of cultural diversity and features 16 "villages" that will showcase traditional food, clothing, arts and crafts, dance and music.
Rotorua Multi-Cultural Council
president and GLOBAL Fest co-ordinator Alexis Lewgor said it would be the third event for the city and would begin with a traditional Maori powhiri (welcoming), followed by non-stop live performances throughout the day.
The event would conclude with a drum finale by Rotorua Racco, zumba dancers and audience participants.
Timetable here
Ms Lewgor said the event provided a good opportunity to celebrate and learn about the large range of cultures living in Rotorua. She expected about 5000 people to attend.
"There's a growing number of different ethnicities in the city and it would be good if locals came along and learned at least one thing from the different cultures on display," she said.
"Food, theatre, costume and song all give voice to the richness of the multicultural experience. You don't have to understand all the words to know the meaning of the message.
"If you would like to travel the world in a short amount of time, then GLOBAL Fest is the place to be."
She said the alcohol and smoke-free event offered a unique cultural experience at an affordable price.
"There will be a lot of great entertainment and every village is required to demonstrate and teach six sections of their culture.
"People will get the opportunity to taste traditional food, learn a basic greeting or sentence and so much more," she said.
"I'm looking forward to sharing cultures with my neighbours in the city."
The multicultural event includes four-and-a-half hours of performances on a central stage, and villages will get the opportunity to perform a 15-minute programme.
GLOBAL Fest will be on at the Rotorua International Stadium from 11am to 4pm and will costs $5 per adult, $2 for a child, and is free for children aged under 5.
For more information about GLOBAL Fest, contact Alexis Lewgor on (027) 449 4417.
