Canberra is a city that is constantly busy with some event or another. I hardly have the time to keep up. I have been looking forward to February mainly for two reasons… (1) I fly off to Japan and (2) I get to attend the National Multicultural Festival for the first time! I have heard so much about it over the last few months and couldn’t wait to experience it for myself.
The 2015 National Multiculrural Festival is a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds, sights, flavours and fun set in the heart of Canberra. You can read up all details here so I am not going to write about what, when, where and how. What I am going to write about is a few pointers you should keep in mind if you plan to attend the festival tomorrow (Feb 15th) or next year!
- Make sure you visit the festival with an empty stomach. If you’ve had breakfast, you are not going to have the space to try all you want to try.
- OK, I am exaggerating. Even with an empty stomach you won’t be able to try everything that is on offer.
- If you do not want to spend money purchasing water, carry a few bottles in a backpack.
- Yes, a backpack so that you have your hands free to hold on to beers, kebabs and cannolis!
- Get your hands on a festival map, so you know exactly where to walk towards if you have a particular stall in mind!
- Share your food with your partner or friends so you get to try the variety that is spread across a few streets!
- Don’t bother trying to get a seat to watch performances as it will be taken up by people who come extra early and don’t plan to ever get up!
- You may think, hey! I’ll carry my own fold-able chair but then you won’t be able to carry all the food you’re going to buy… think about that.
- Take the free bus if you think finding parking and having to walk a distance would annoy you.
- If you are full and contented and think its time to go home, don’t leave until you have bought some of the food you thought was super delicious to take home.
- If you don’t you will regret it! Trust me, I know what I am talking about!
- Find the complete 2016 entertainment program here.
Here are some of the photos I took with my iPhone before I gave up to concentrate on eating and enjoying the shows.
These photos remind me so much of Toronto! All the multicultural food and festivals are one of the best things about living here. Looks like Canberra would be to my taste, as well. I’d love to try the Russian food followed by a Turkish donut and chips-on-a-stick. Love your food posts, Rose!
Joseph’s sister lives in Toronto! I hope to visit some day especially when such festivals are on. I think i would love Toronto too if its anything like Canberra! I was so full by the time I reached the Russian stall, I could only admire their spread! 🙁
I do love a good festival, and this one looks so fun – and delicious. 🙂
Now this sounds like my kind of event! Looks amazing and so many delicious things. Montreal is also fortunate with food related festivals.
Thanks for the guide! I am so totally ready for the festival this year. Next weekend can’t come soon enough!
These useful tips are very timely with the 2016 festival on its way very soon. I agree that Canberra does have a lot of cool things going on, more than you might expect.
Thank you for the tips, I will apply these to festivals near me too! Have a great time in Japan, I visited last year and it was amazing!
Best Festival EVA!!! I traditionally get my fundraise on for Menslink which allows me to scope out all the spots I want to hit up, then order small portions of everything. Mmmmm…. I am so excited. I will see you guys there for sure. 🙂
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Hi Rosemarie!
It’s in my bucketlist to attend a festival in another country so I’d keep this one in mind. You had me with food, that’s a great tip, going there with an empty stomach hahaha..