2023 National Multicultural Festival
Join us at 10.00am for the official opening of the EU Village by the ACT Chief Minister, Mr Andrew Barr and the EU Ambassador to Australia Mr Gabriele Visentin together with the Ambassadors from the EU countries represented at the Village.
Collect your EU PASSPORT from the EU Delegation stall, have your photo taken at the photo-booth and discover more about your favourite EU countries, with stalls from Belgium, Croatia, Czech, Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Norway.
Come with us to:
| Belgium | Belgium, a small country with a lot to offer! Think you know more about this little ‘diamond’ at the heart of Europe or want to find out? Come visit us at the Belgian stall, try your luck and win some of our wonderful prizes! We can’t wait to see you there |
| Croatia | Croatia! More than just pretty beaches; there is something for everyone! Come and visit us to see our presentation on our unique cultural heritage and pick up a travel brochure while you are here to start planning your next holiday. |
| Czech Republic | Come and taste the traditional Czech non-alcoholic beer to freshen up your day! Czech beer has long history and is considered to be among the best in the World J. Feel free to talk to us about our cultural heritage, business or travel opportunities and all things Czech! |
| Denmark | Did you know that Copenhagen is the World Capital of Architecture in 2023 and that Denmark has qualified to the Women's Soccer World Cup co-hosted by Australia in 2023? Come and find out more and while you are here try some elderflower drinks, get your very own Danish tattoo and take away some Danish liquorice. |
| Estonia | Come and visit the Estonian Stall to discover what Estonia has to offer and learn some interesting facts by challenging your mind. There is nothing to lose, only to win! Maybe you will even be awarded with some amazing treats! |
| Finland | Come take a virtual trip to Finland! Using virtual reality, you can experience the wild scenery of Finland without leaving the comfort of Canberra. Plus, our team are on hand to answer all your questions and tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Finland! |
| France | Interested in travelling to France? Come browse through our travel brochures, learn about studying abroad, taste some wonderful French food, or try practicing your French with our on-site French teacher! In addition, join us for some fun events; come enter the Alliance Française raffle and French Embassy photo booth contest to take home your very own French bundle and join us from 12 – 1pm and 2 – 3:30pm for a free wine tasting. Raffle prizes drawn at 3:30pm ! |
| Germany | Come and discover Germany! Find all the information you need for your next holiday or study visit. Sample German gummy bears, collect traditional German recipe postcards and grab a helium balloon for the young or young at heart. Join our quiz to win an original Berlin Bear sculpture or spin the Wheel of Fortune for your chance to win great prizes. Practice your German, learn about German language courses and what Das Zentrum Australian-German Institute has on offer. |
| Greece |
Welcome to the Stall of Greece and discover more about its culture, history, hospitality, investment and education opportunities. Keep in mind that Eleusis, an ancient town near Athens, is the cultural capital of Europe for the current year. Learn your first words in Greek, virtually or in person and give yourself the opportunity to visit Greece, as more than 330.000 Australians did in 2019. |
| Hungary | Would you be interested to get to know more about one of the most fascinating countries of Central Europe? Visit our stall and test your knowledge about Hungary by a short quiz and you can even take home a Hungarian prize. |
| Ireland | Fáilte go hÉireann! Get a taste of Ireland without the long haul flight. Sample some Irish snacks, enjoy an seisiún ceol (a traditional Irish music session), and pick up tips for visiting some of Ireland’s hidden gems. With nearly 10% of Australia’s population identifying as having Irish heritage, we will of course have information on genealogy and citizenship to hand too. |
| Italy |
Italy: land of Wonders! Discover its beauties and attractions with a VR (Virtual Reality) session. Have fun with our games, learn about the father of the modern Italian language, Alessandro Manzoni. |
| Latvia | Come to the Latvian stall to see the beauty Latvia has to offer and experience the depth and richness of its culture. Find out why the Latvian Dance and Song Festival of more than 40,000 performers is a must-see this year. Get a question about Latvia right and you are guaranteed a surprise! |
| Lithuania | Labas [la-bus]! Hello! Come and discover what Lithuania has to offer! We welcome you to visit us at our stall - meet members of our local basketball team, Vilkas; sample Lithuania’s honey liqueur; see us dressed in traditional folk dancing costume; and learn about the history of our local community. We have takeaway information on Lithuanian cuisine and recipes, sightseeing recommendations, mini flags and stickers. Ačiū [ah-choo] thank you! |
| Malta | Visit Malta! More to Explore! Pamper your taste buds and come visit our stand to sense some Mediterranean flavours the Maltese Islands have to offer. Visit us and experience our identity, a journey across 7,000 years of history and culture. |
| Netherlands | Did you know that the Dutch were the first Europeans to encounter Australia? Would you like to learn how to play a game of Sjoelen, take home some Dutch recipes and free books or receive a stamp in your EU passport? For visitors with a sweet tooth, we have delicious Dutch snacks such as drop and speculaas. And if you would like to know more about the Netherlands or about the Dutch Embassy in Canberra, we are looking forward to meeting you! |
| Norway | Come and pick up your Viking hat and fun facts on Norway and don’t forget to enter our raffle while you are there. |
| Poland | Discover what Poland has to offer and learn more about the Polish “Solidarity gene” as well as Polish-Australian links, incl. Mt Kosciuszko. You are also invited to taste-test our delicious sweets and have a photo taken in traditional Polish costume. |
| Portugal | Bring the kids to our stall and let them sit down and colour some Portuguese drawings while you discover all that Portugal has to offer! Show your knowledge about our country with our quiz for a chance to win a special prize. |
| Romania | Multiculturalism is a key characteristic of Australia that all of us know about. But did you know that Romania is one of the most multicultural diverse countries in Europe? Or that we host the second largest building in the world? Come and discover interesting facts about Romania and its unique relationship with other cultures. |
| Slovenia | Come and discover why Slovenia is the leading European country for sustainable tourism, and Ljubljana the most sustainable capital city in the EU. Plus, with hiking, camping, sailing, skiing, rafting, kayaking, paragliding, bear watching (and more) on offer, come get all the information to make Slovenia your next European holiday destination. |
| Spain | Want to learn Spanish? Then visit us! You can win a Spanish course! Discover and learn more about Spain with our fun games for all ages. Win amazing prizes, enjoy delicious polvorones and taste some Sangria (adults only). Don´t forget to take your photo as a Flamenco dancer in the ‘Face-in-hole photo booth’. |
More information on the 2023 ACT National Multicultural Festival 17-19 February 2023 is available here.
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