Pako ready for ‘biggest party’

Alex de Vos
Giant faces, colourful costumes and international aromas will fill Geelong West’s cosmopolitan Pakington Street this month for a 28th annual Pako Festa.
Hailed as Victoria’s biggest multicultural event and Australia’s largest free cultural celebration, the event will feature a parade of community groups, performers, workshops, live entertainment, celebrity appearances and international food stalls.
Organisers expect tens of thousands of visitors to attend this year’s Pako Festa, making the festival the biggest one-day annual event in the Geelong region.
Event organiser Luisa Lafornara, of Geelong multicultural services provider Diversitat, said the event was designed to break down racial barriers while celebrating the city’s renowned cultural diversity.
“This year we’ve got about 20 different groups participating in the festival including the Wathaurong tribe and Geelong’s Polish community,” Ms Lafornara said.
“We’re expecting the biggest Pako Festa to date.”
Ms Lafornara said the event provided ethnic communities with an opportunity to showcase and celebrate their cultural heritage in harmony.
“It’s just the most amazing festival,” she said.
Ms Lafornara nominated “the smells, the colours and the people” as personal festival highlights.
This year’s event will also feature a photographic display of 28 different faces.
“In collaboration with Pako Festa, the Streetface display is a new addition to the festival.” Ms Larfornara said.
“The pictures were chosen to be featured around the city and Pakington Street – one for every year Pako Festa has existed.”
The festival kicks off at 11am on February 27.
The Independent is a sponsor of Pako Festa.