Music, dancing, activities and international food are set to create a street party atmosphere next Friday (18/03) for Council’s inaugural Harmony Fest celebration.

A live five hour concert featuring performances from both local acts and international performers will be a highlight of Harmony Fest, to be held on Friday 18 March from 4.30 to 10pm in Armstrong Street South.

City of Ballarat Portfolio Councillor for People and Communities John Philips said Council’s inaugural Harmony Fest would be a fitting celebration to mark the commencement of Cultural Diversity Week.

“The theme for Harmony Fest is ‘all of us’, this event is all about getting the entire community together to celebrate our city’s wonderful diversity.

“It is a huge coup for us to have such a wide range of high calibre music acts right here in Ballarat to perform. I encourage the community to come along, enjoy some international cuisine, sit back and enjoy what will be a vibrant five hour concert.”

Headline acts include Madre Monte, Rhythm and Spice, Musiki Manjaro and the Massive Hip Hop Choir and Valanga Khoza.

Local entertainment will include The Sweet Mona’s, Sayon Souare, Australian Irish Dance Company, Ballarat African Association Youth Dance Group, Martial Arts Group, Thai Dancers, Scottish Piper and Drums, Filipino Dance Troupe, Togolese community and Erika Lapina.

International food stalls include cuisine from Africa, Sudan, India, Turkey, Japan as well as a traditional Australian BBQ.

Other activities available on the night will include origami, Chinese masks, badge-making, paper doll fashion, henna tattoos and (Holi) colour play.

The craft market will include indigenous goods, scarves, leathergoods, jewellery, children’s night delights and eccentric asian goods, all which will be available for purchase at the event.

Background information on headline acts:

• Madre Monte – Featuring two Columbians and friends who mix Latin rhythms including the Columbian national rhythm with reggae.
• Rhythm and Spice – Australia’s original and premier Bollywood group.
• Musiki Manjaro – A contemporary African dance band. Members come from South Africa, Congo, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania and Australia.
• Massive Hip Hop Choir – A group of young urban artists from a range of cultural backgrounds.
• Valanga Khoza – energetic performer with a whole band combining traditional African songs, harmonies and western instruments.