Lanterns, dancers and exotic drum beats lured a record crowd to the Riverlights Multicultural Festival at Maitland on Saturday.
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About 10,000 people embarked on a journey of the senses – up 3000 on last year’s bumper crowd.
“It was an enormous crowd, many more than we expected,” Maitland City Council marketing and communications manager Rachel MacLucas said.
Food tents lined The Levee retail and lifestyle precinct where visitors could grab a bite and enjoy the entertainment.
School students shared the stage with the likes of the Afrocentrix, an Afro-fusion band.
Children enjoyed lantern and instrument making workshops as well as language workshops in Arabic, Filipino and Cantonese to name a few.
Camel rides along the Hunter River complemented a Middle Eastern vibe.
“The Levee was packed out and there were a lot of people on the riverbank too,” Ms MacLucas said.“I was amazed how many people were simply sitting on the riverbank taking it in while children played.”
As the sun set, anticipation built for the main event.
The children’s lanterns were floated on dusk alongside an illuminated 15-metre dragon.
On the serene waters, the lanterns snaked their way toward the Belmore Bridge.
Children who visited the event took home a cultural passport filled with stamps they collected at different “villages” each time they learnt something new.
“Riverlights is a great festival for people to experience all these different cultures,” Ms MacLucas said. “It’s easy to forget we have people from all these amazing cultures living in our community.”
This year’s event also included a citizenship ceremony with the mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore.
