Festival of International Understanding will be held this week in Cowra with the Republic of Belarus being guest nation for this year.
A land-locked country located in Eastern Europe, Belarus has a rich cultural heritage, unique architecture and extraordinary landscapes.
The Festival celebrates friendship, diversity and understanding and provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the people and culture of Belarus to the Cowra community. An absolute highlight this year will be the attendance of ROVESNIK, a dance group of twenty dancers that will travel all the way from Belarus, to attend and perform at the Festival.
Now in its 53rd year, the Festival will be a jam-packed 10 days of fun activities for the whole community to enjoy, including:
• Friday 24 March: Festival Peace Ceremony and Official Opening 6pm at Cowra’s Peace Bell in Darling Street.
• Friday 24 March: Neon Ballroom Youth Disco 7pm at the Civic Centre, ROVESNIK in attendance.
•Saturday 25 March: The popular Street Parade involving dozens of local groups highlighting unique aspects of the guest nation starts at 12pm from Brougham Park, before moving down to Kendal Street and into River Park for the Festival Carnival at 1pm.
On Sunday 26 March there is a performance by ROVESNIK to be held at the CIVIC Centre at 10.30am (cost – gold coin). Following this there is the chance to attend a workshop by ROVESNIK for children and adults, to learn Belarusian Dancing ($15 per person). This will be a fantastic opportunity for our local communities and we encourage everyone to get involved.
Perennial favourites including the lunchtime theatre at the Cowra Civic Centre, the Cowra Neighbourhood Centre Multi- cultural Lunch, and the VIEW Club lunch will take place during the week.
For more information and full program details, follow the Cowra Festival of International Understanding on facebook or email festival@cowra.nsw.gov.au.