Whanganui Festival of Cultures returning

A big crowd enjoyed the 2016 Whanganui Festival of Cultures in Majestic Square.

The Whanganui Festival of Cultures will return to Majestic Square next Saturday, October 28.

The line-up will include Sam Manzanza & Afro Beats from Wellington and Palmerston North's Samba ao Vento Drummers joining a plethora of local performers to create a spectacular day-long, family friendly event, says Mainstreet events manager Kelly Scarrow.

"The festival has also attracted more stallholders this year with 24 signed up, including cuisine from South Africa, the Middle East, Korea, the Pacific, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and South America as well as Kiwi favourites - a traditional hangi or a good, old hot dog on a stick to name but a few."

The festival has been running for six years with new groups joining each year to share their cultures.

This year Whanganui group Nova Zeelandia Vikings will have an information stall and a spontaneous display of medieval combat while Rene Olmos and Irina Kapeli will bring a Latin influence performing salsa, bachata and tango.

Ms Scarrow says the festival is unique in Whanganui because it is a real community effort to pull the event together.

"The Festival of Cultures is a chance for people of all cultures, backgrounds, ages and interests to come together in the heart of our beautiful city, to share food, conversation, engage with one another all whilst having a good time.

"The festival is organised by the community for the community to reflect and celebrate our cultural diversity within Whanganui.

"These types of events are what community is all about."

Whanganui Festival of Cultures: 10.30am Saturday, October 28, Majestic Square. The festival will be held inside the Whanganui War Memorial Hall if the weather is wet. See the Whanganui Festival of Cultures Facebook page for more.