Fiesta to celebrate Pyramid Hill’s multicultural community
Published on 13 October 2017
Pyramid Hill will once again come alive with the sounds, smells, sights and celebration of multicultural Australia as it holds its third town-wide Fiesta on Saturday, 28 October.
One of the final events for the 2017 Naturally Loddon Spring Festival, the Fiesta involves all local community clubs, schools and many businesses. It is based in the Kelly Park precinct and commemorates the town’s multicultural community.
The full program of activities is designed to showcase Australian and Filipino cultures. There will be a live band of mixed cultural backgrounds, preschoolers will lead the traditional Filipino ‘Santacruzan’ parade and street dancing will bring colour and vigour to the event. Plenty of Filipino and Australian food will also be available.
“Each year the program grows and this year we will introduce the inaugural Fiesta Talent Pageant for primary school-aged children,” organising committee Chair Cheryl McKinnon said.
“We are very excited about the pageant as it is the idea of one of our youngest committee members, Feliz Garchitorena. We are supporting her to make it happen. She is a strong leader, creative and well organised and making the most of the opportunities that the Fiesta brings to her and our town.”
This year’s Fiesta will also see the return of Kool Skools, including a performance and launch of the 2017 CD.
“The Kool Skools performance was a big drawcard last year. We are pleased to have the opportunity to host the launch again, which showcases the musical talents of students across Loddon Shire,” Ms McKinnon said.
The Fiesta has proven to be a popular event, with previous Fiestas attracting over 500 patrons from the region and beyond.
“The aim of the Fiesta is to bring everyone together to celebrate and share cultural traditions,” Ms McKinnon added.
“The event not only encourages people within Pyramid Hill to meet each other, it also sees volunteers from Filipino, Australian and other cultures work side-by-side.”
Ms McKinnon said the idea for the Fiesta began when the number of Filipino residents within the community had quickly grown to around 20 per cent of the town’s population.
“The residents recognised that there needed to be an event that crossed over the different cultures and brought the whole community together,” she said.
“At that stage, we didn’t have an annual event that brought the community together other than sport – which is not necessarily a cross-cultural activity.”
The Fiesta will run from 4pm to 10pm. Entry costs $45 for a family, $20 for an adult, $10 for secondary students and $5 for primary school children. This entry fee includes all food.
Attendees are asked to bring their own chairs and picnic rugs.
This year, the Fiesta will follow on from the Filipino Basketball Association Grand Final to be held at the Pyramid Hill College Stadium during the day. As basketball is considered to be the National Sport of the Philippines, it is appropriate that this event coincides with the Fiesta to make it a regional multicultural celebration.
For more information, phone (03) 5494 3489 or visit http://www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Lists/Events/Naturally-Loddon-Pyramid-Hill-Fiesta.
Running from early September until the 28 October, the Naturally Loddon Spring Festival features 15 family-friendly events spread across the Shire. To obtain a festival brochure, phone the Loddon Visitor Information Centre on 5494 3489 or visit www.loddon.vic.gov.au.