No rain on Pako parade bright outlook

A FORECAST of showers on Saturday has failed to dampen hopes of another record crowd at this weekend’s Pako Festa, according to organisers.
Event organiser Luisa Lafornara, of Geelong multicultural services provider Diversitat, said she was confident this year’s event would be “bigger and better”.
“I don’t think the weather will matter at all,” she said.
“We’re looking forward to a bigger and better Pako Festa.”
Hailed as Victoria’s biggest multicultural event and Australia’s largest free cultural celebration, Saturday’s festa will feature a parade of community groups, performers, workshops, live entertainment, celebrity appearances and a range of international food stalls.
Organisers expect more than 100,000 patrons to attend this year’s Pako Festa, making the festival the biggest one-day annual event in the Geelong region.
Ms Lafornara said the event was designed to break down racial barriers while celebrating the city’s renowned cultural diversity.
Ms Lafornara expected the event to attract “more cultural communities than ever before”.
“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.
Hungry revellers could expect to feast on a variety of international cuisine from Africa, Croatis, Holland, Greece, Spain, Wales, Scotland and Macedonia, Ms Larfornara said.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast Geelong’s temperature to reach 31 degrees on Saturday, with “a shower or two” developing in the late afternoon.
The festival kicks off at 11am.
The Independent is a sponsor of Pako Festa.