Travel the world with CultureFest in Selwyn
Selwyn District Council media release: 19th August 2024
An array of sounds, flavours and fun of cultures from around the world is returning to Selwyn this September.
Explore tasty dishes and fantastic entertainment during our annual CultureFest celebration at Lincoln Event Centre on Sunday 15th September 2024 - from 10am to 3pm.
Crowds of around 4,000 people are expected to gather at this popular free-entry family event to enjoy a range of interactive activities, exciting cultural performances, delicious food and much more from local community groups and residents.
Flavours from 51 different food sellers hailing from all corners of the globe, from Cambodia, Philippines, India, Nigeria and beyond, will be joined by 18 performing groups and four ‘have-a-go’ groups from Poland to Solomon Islands.
Among the performers returning this year is Shiki Japanese Music Group. The group is named after the four seasons in Japan and performs Japanese music on traditional Japanese instruments, including the koto - a 7th and 8th century string instrument.
Group member Maureen Heffernan says they are looking forward to introducing Japanese music to the Selwyn community and enjoying the other cultural performances.
“We believe it is important to participate to show Japanese culture and music, especially as many people may not have seen or heard the koto before.”
New food vendor Sweet As Boba are bringing their signature bubble tea drinks to CultureFest this year. Sheila Yapan of Sweet As Boba, says they are excited to be a part of CultureFest and are looking forward to showcasing their bubble tea drinks and experiencing the diverse range of cultures through food, music, art, and performances.
The Council and community groups are continuing the celebrations of the many cultures that make up the district with a community events series this year. This series will run for two weeks following the main CultureFest event.
There will be a range of activities on offer including henna art workshops, international sports, music and dance performances, talks and presentations, through to the return of the popular women’s only swimming night at Selwyn Aquatic Centre.
The Council is excited to introduce two new events that celebrate the Māori culture to the CultureFest series this year. The first event on Thursday 26th September is a traditional Māori healing practice workshop. This session will explore the healing method of mirimiri - led by experienced Rongoā Practitioner, Hutika Crofts.
The second event on Thursday 3rd October gives the community the chance to hear Ariana Tikao’s powerful and personal story about receiving her moko kauae - a chin tattoo which connects wāhine to their Māori identity and whakapapa.
Deputy Mayor Malcolm Lyall says CultureFest is a highlight event of the year for the district.
“CultureFest brings a lot of fun and enjoyment to Selwyn every year and it is a great day out for the whole whānau. It’s been good to see how the communities’ involvement with the event has grown over the years and how people are enjoying the wider event series.”
Get more information about CultureFest and associated events in Selwyn.