Top 3 Brisbane Community Festivals in February

Top 3 Brisbane Community Festivals in February

Post
Subscribe

Posted 2013-01-21 by Clare DeVillefollow
[SECTION][/SECTION]

After a short respite following the whirlwind of Christmas and New Year activity, Brisbane is amped up and ready to deliver a fabulous, festival-filled February. Our city's growing trend toward community and multicultural events continues with February's foray into the world of the Maori and Chinese cultures, along with a brand new festival celebrating Brisbane-Asian connections.



[SECTION]Waitangi Multicultural Day[/SECTION]

Commemorating one of New Zealand's most significant days in history, Waitangi Day celebrates the signing of New Zealand's founding document, theTreaty of Waitangi in 1840.



Presented by Te Korowai Aroha (TKA) with the support of Logan City Council, this hugely successful event attracts up to 15,000 visitors annually and is an alcohol free, family friendly festival. TKA is a non-profit organisation which delivers a range of services to Maori, Pacific Island and New Zealand ex-pat communities living in South East Queensland.

The multicultural festival will showcase New Zealand's heritage and traditions with an all day program of events and entertainment. Enjoy the excitement and visual spectacle of traditional Maori and Pacific Island music, song and dance. There will be amusement rides for the kids, and adults can shop til you drop at stalls featuring cultural arts and craft, fashion and merchandise.





For some, myself included, the highlight of any multicultural festival is the food; experience a true taste of Maori with rewana (baked potato bread) and traditional hangi, which is a method of cooking using hot rocks and a pit oven in the ground. A range of Polynesian and various other ethnic delicacies will be available to tempt and delight including fried bread and Kaimoana (food from the sea).



Waitangi Multicultural Day makes for a fabulous family outing and provides an opportunity for Australians to learn more about our neighbours, and to both celebrate and appreciate New Zealand's contributions to our own multicultural society.

When: Saturday 2nd February, 8.00am - 6.00pm
Where: Kingston Butter Factory, Milky Way, Kingston
Cost: $10 (free for pensioners and kids under 12)


[SECTION]BrisAsia Festival[/SECTION]

Thanks to Brisbane City Council a brand new community festival is heading our way this month. The BrisAsia Festival is a celebration of Brisbane-Asian connections and will feature an exciting program of traditional and contemporary Asian arts and cultural events across the city over a two week period.

Hot Shanghai Nights is the Paris of the Orient inspired opening night, and will see Burnett Lane transformed into a steamy 1940's Shanghai; jazz grooves, live performances and streetfood all combine to create a sizzilng street fiesta on Friday 8th February, 5.00pm - 9.00pm.



Music fans will appreciate the free concerts at The Salvation Army Temple and the captivating journey through Asian world music at Bands in Parks - Eastern Odyssey, a free 2 hour concert featuring Brisbane's best world musicians, set against the scenic backdrop of the picturesque Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.



Foodies will be in foodie heaven at the free Big Aussie-Asian BBQ in Redacliff Place on Friday 15th February, 2.00pm - 8.00pm. Join celebrity chef Poh Ling Yeow in two free masterclasses and learn to create amazing Asian dishes using the Aussie BBQ. Feast upon Asian BBQ treats, dumplings, rice dishes and other Asian cuisine delights.



Head to King George Square on Thursday 21st February (5.00-9.00pm) for a games night and learn traditional games such as Mahjong and Chinese Checkers. And on Saturday 23rd February (5.00pm - 9.00pm) King George Square will be transformed into a giant dancefloor for the festival's closing celebrations Neon Pop! Grab your glow sticks and get your groove on with an electric evening of Asian pop and electronic music.


[SECTION]Chinese New Year[/SECTION]

Chinese New Year celebrations will be held all over the city in February as we farewell the Dragon and usher in the Year of the Snake; whichever event you attend be sure to wear red in order to ward off evil spirits and ill fortune.

Traditional Lion Dances from various countries including China, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia create a visual masterpiece at locations such as Springfield Marketplace (23/02/2013 @ 11.30am), and Sunnybank Plaza. On Sunday 2nd February from 9.00am - 8.00pm the Coles carpark at Sunnybank Plaza will host a Chinese New Year festival featuring Lion Dance, hours of traditional music and dance, magic shows and countless authentic food stalls.



The mother of all Chinese New Year festivals will occur in Fortitude Valley's Chinatown Mall between 8th & 17th February. Music, dance, firecrackers, cooking classes, Tai Chi demonstrations and puppet shows are all part of the festivities; check out the Brisbane City Council website for details and the program.



For a complete cultural experience, many of the restaurants in the Chinatown Mall will be hosting special New Year events; the Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant for example is offering an all you can eat banquet and live entertainment for $39.80.



Chinese New Year celebrations are a feast for the senses, full of vibrant colors, sights and sounds; if you don't fancy a trip to Fortitude Valley check your local newspaper for suburban happenings.

[SECTION]Special Mention - World Theatre Festival[/SECTION]

The Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre will host the 2013 World Theatre Festival from the 13th - 24th February. The best of national and international theatre will come together for this community event and present a diverse and exciting program.



#lists
#february
#festivals
#cultural_events
#community_events
%wnbrisbane
190655 - 2023-06-16 03:28:28

Tags

Free
Outdoor
Festivals
Music
Markets
Nightlife
Fundraisers
Community
Family_friendly
Arts_culture
Food_drink
Educational
Shopping_markets
Theatre_shows
Holiday
Copyright 2024 OatLabs ABN 18113479226