Celebrating ‘togetherness’

‘‘It’s an important event for the city. It’s learning about each other.’’ Karen Heaphy

Palmerston North is set for a busy weekend of dancing, crafts and plenty of food during the Festival of Cultures.

The annual event begins on Friday evening when the sky will light up with colourful lanterns.

The Palmerston North City Council is again organising the festival after it drew criticism in 2016 about commercial food trucks overpowering smaller ethnic offerings.

In 2017, the council planned to put more culture back into the festival.

Council events co-ordinator Karen Heaphy said the festival celebrated ‘‘togetherness’’ in a multicultural city.

‘‘It’s an important event for the city.

‘‘It’s other.’’

Lantern making workshops, in preparation for the festival opening, were popular this year, Heaphy said. Children had a go at making vibrant and colourful lanterns, with love-hearts, koru and other patterns making each one unique.

On Saturday, The Square will be filled with about 100 craft and food stalls and the sound of tunes from around the world.

Sunday would also be a packed day, with dozens of events at Te Manawa, including a puppet show learning about each and Henna art, Heaphy said.

One-hundred puppets would be used to tell a Maori legend about Pourangahua, the birdman, and his flight to Aotearoa.

The Manawatu Multicultural Council would hold a fashion parade called ‘‘multi-clothes for multipeople’’, Heaphy said.

There, people could learn about national costumes and a range of natural fibres used to make clothing in different countries around the world.

An Indonesian orchestra was performing and hosting a workshop on how to play some of its instruments.

Burmese weavers and a balloon-artist, who will make animals from around the world, are also crammed into the culturefilled Sunday.

In the eight years Heaphy has been involved, the event’s popularity has grown along with the city’s population, she said.

She estimated about 800 people helped create the events, including more than a dozen food stalls.

Up to 10,000 people were expected to attend over the threedays this weekend, Heaphy said.